Monster recognised for mighty steps to tackle ageism

Monster Worldwide Limited has today been awarded by the Governmentís Age Positive Campaign for its positive approach to tackling age discrimination in the workplace. The online recruitment specialist has been honoured with Age Positive Employer Champion status for its giant efforts to eradicate any ageist practices within the organisation.

The Age Positive Campaign, a Department for Work and Pensions initiative, spearheaded by Malcolm Wicks, the Minister for Pensions, works with employers across Great Britain to promote age diversity in the workplace. It aims to encourage companies to adopt good age practices ahead of new legislation, which will make workplace age discrimination illegal from 2006.

Sajda Khan, Equality and Diversity Manager at Monster Worldwide Limited, said: Becoming an Employer Champion has been an acknowledgement of the work we have always done to support age diversity. Monster knows that being an Age Positive company can increase morale, improve recruitment and retention, widen our skills base and ultimately improve our bottom line. We would recommend other companies to implement positive age practices too.

Monster Worldwide Limited have workers ranging in age from17 to 82. They sponsor course fees for all employees young and old and accommodate the wishes of older workers who wish to stay on beyond their retirement age.

Being Age Positive has had an extremely positive impact on our ability to meet our business objectives and the needs of our clientís. All employers, no matter what size should start implementing age friendly policies.

Age Positive has awarded Employer Champion status to over 100 organisations, including Barclays, Sainsburyís and Thomas Cook that have also successfully implemented age positive working practices. Champions play a vital role in the Age Positive campaign by tackling age discrimination in their own workplace and highlighting the practical business benefits of having a mixed age workforce.

Age Positive has developed a guide, A Practical Guide For Business to help employers with good practice in employment from recruitment and selection, promotion and training and development right through to retirement.

For more information about the Age Positive campaign and a full list of Employer Champions, log on to www.agepositive.gov.uk. Or to order a free copy of the guide, íAge Diversity at Work - A practical guide for businessí, call 08457 330 360.