McGuireWoods London managing partner Daniel Peyton wrote a Jan. 23, 2020, article for People Management magazine on evolving age discrimination issues in the UK, including tribunal claims, guidance and legislation, changing pay scales, employer justified retirement age and generational labels.
“Annual employment tribunal statistics from the Ministry of Justice show that in 2018-19 there were fewer age discrimination claims than for any other area of discrimination except religion or belief, and sexual orientation,” wrote Peyton.
Among other recent developments, Peyton discussed the generational catchphrase of the moment — “OK, Boomer” — noting, “Generational labels are as discriminatory as any other insulting stereotype of a protected characteristic.” The “‘banter’ defence has a long history of failure in discrimination claims — and tribunals seldom ‘get the joke’ when discrimination is involved,” he wrote.