At the present time, employers can stipulate retirement ages, but under the new plans that wouldn't be allowed and they'd have to let people work until they're 70 years old.
Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, recently condemned ageism as the "last bastion" of discrimination, although John Cridland – deputy director general of the Confederation of British Industry – said that although employers recognise age discrimination is unacceptable, it could prove tricky to outlaw. He also suggested there's a real risk of an "explosion" of employment tribunals.
How does all this affect the security industry? In 11 years of security recruitment I've found very little discrimination of any kind, although I did once have a client (now an ex-client) who rejected one candidate for being "too fat to be a CCTV engineer" (a role he had already performed for 20 years) and another for "looking like a convict".
The security industry employs individuals of all ages and skill levels. Indeed, many of those employed within the industry have entered it after a first career in the police, military or Government service.
One area in which there is some discrimination is in sales. There's often a preconception that an older person is less 'hungry', less motivated and less energetic. Personally, I've met 60-year-olds who are full of drive and energy, as well as 30-year-olds who look as though they're "past it". While this has always been discouraged, companies may soon risk penalties for harbouring such preconceived ideas.
How this will affect those positions requiring a certain level of physical fitness – police officers, security officers and installation engineers spring to mind – only time will tell.
Source
SMT
