Why do the UK’s Age Discrimination Regulations cover younger workers as well?
Firstly, because younger workers also encounter age discrimination. (Indeed, younger workers perceive they encounter age discrimination to a greater extent than do older workers). Whilst older job applicants are often told they are ‘over qualified’ for the job, younger applicants and workers are often wrongly denied opportunities on the basis that they are too young and/or don’t have enough experience. Secondly, because the EU Directive, on which the UK’s Regulations are based, covers younger as well as older workers. The decisions to maintain age based criteria for the National Minimum Wage and for Statutory Redundancy Pay both directly discriminate against younger workers but are permitted under the ‘public policy’ exemption in the Directive according to the Government.
