An employee has just turned retirement age and her world suddenly collapses all around her. She has become a second-class citizen and work and she doesn't care for it. She storms into the HR manager's office and demands something to be done about her bout of ageism. She also has to deal with a young member of her staff who is complaining about the same thing.
 
 

Since April 07 saw the passing of legislation banning ageism at work, a leading think tank on age says laws have yet to have an impact.

Some facts and figures 

• A fifth (20%) of British workers say that age has stood in the way of them getting a job

• Almost two thirds (63%) of those surveyed think the age laws have made little or no difference to the way that people are recruited

Research from The Employers Forum on Age (EFA) in association with Procter & Gamble, reveals that ageism is still alive and well in British workplaces, with almost six million people saying they have seen ageist behaviour in their own workplace since the laws came into force.

The EFA has found that many workers are still yet to feel the difference, particularly when it comes to getting a job. Almost two thirds (63%) of people surveyed said the regulations have made little or no difference to the way that people are now recruited.

From the language used in a job advert to the attitude of the interviewer, ageism lurks in every stage of recruitment. Age stereotypes have been built into British workplace culture and assumptions are made about people's work and salary aspirations depending on their age.