What are the forms of discrimination and who does the age discrimination legislation cover?
Age discrimination encompasses discrimination against people of any age if their less favourable treatment is based on their particular age. Therefore it applies equally to people of all ages, including both younger and older people, and includes the following categories: • actual and potential employees (i.e. job applicants) • ex-employees • apprentices • some self-employed workers • contract workers and agency workers • people seeking or undertaking vocational training There are special provisions for office holders, the police, Crown employees, and members of the armed forces. Age discrimination can take many forms but in legal terms it broadly follows the same categories as other discrimination legislation in the UK, namely direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
