News: Contract Law
Employment law training: Arbitrary upper age limit is 'discriminatory'
02 March 2009
Employment law training has been highlighted by a ruling which holds that the National Air Traffic Services (Nats) has breached age discrimination laws.
Peter Baker, who was rejected from an air traffic controller training vacancy because he was over 50, has won his case against the organisation.
An employment law tribunal has judged that an automatic bar on recruiting individuals over the age of 35 is unlawful, which could have implications for business control law training.
Daniel Barnett, employment barrister at 1 Temple Gardens, tells the Times that the company may need to adjust its recruitment policies.
"This is a high-profile example of the danger that employers face if they make assumptions about age without the evidence to back it up," he warns.
Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, claims equality and diversity laws have "real teeth".
He dismisses arbitrary upper age limits and asserts that the tribunal has taken a common-sense approach.
