From 1 October 2006, new laws protect workers from age discrimination. The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations make it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees, trainees or job seekers because of their age and ensure that all workers, regardless of age, have the same rights in terms of training and promotion
Employment Equality (Age) Regulations
From everything that I’ve read, this law seems to be aimed at preventing discrimination against older people. OK, that’s great, but what about younger people? I’m currently looking for a job, and about half of the positions I’ve looked at have contained something in reference to experience. Who is least likely to have experience? School leavers, for instance.
In society’s effort to give everybody an equal opportunity, have we in fact begun to discriminate against the majority? I’m sure that this law and laws like this were written/passed with the best of intentions, but combine political correctness with the complete incompetence of the government, and they only seem to shift the discrimination from one group to another. And, like laws to ‘prevent terrorism’ and ‘protect the children’, who wants to be the person who objects to them?
This story comes to mind when talking about discrimination. The guy was refused the position because of the colour of his skin as a result of a law which was supposed to prevent discrimination. Isn’t that the fucking definition of discrimination? But, he was white, so it must be OK?
Don’t get me wrong, I have the greatest respect for Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and anybody who has stood up for the right to be treated as equals. I think that discrimination on any grounds (race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, etc… ) is a disgusting practice, but it seems to me that most laws actually seem to have the adverse effect, and end up discriminating against the majority. In most situations, the above traits are irrelevant, and should not be considered. However, there are positions where certain traits are advantageous. I am hardly suited to becoming a priest, and anybody to suggest otherwise is a moron. If I am refused that position simply because I am not religious, is that discrimination? I would say no, but it would not surprise me if I could sue the church for turning me down because of that. And damn it, if everybody else gets an equal opportunity, I want one too!
I’m a white, agnostic, heterosexual male aged 18-35. Is it actually possible for me to be discriminated against? In the eyes of the law, I suspect not.