Age discrimination is illegal. As an employer, tackling discrimination and fairness at work can enhance your reputation and help you attract and retain multi-generational employees.
What can employers do to create a fair workplace and meet their legal obligations? The following is the checklist for making sure your company is age-discrimination-free.
Understand the Issue
You have to consider how you are employing people. That is why you must ensure there is no potential indirect or direct age discrimination. Examine your employment terms and conditions, recruitment policy, promotions and transfers, dismissals, redundancy, and training. Check if there are areas of age bias on your procedures and policies, which can include flexible working, annual leave, and sick leave. You can now assess your employees across the board, including your managers and directors. Assess them for an indication of age-related victimization, bullying, or harassment. If elder law litigation is required ensure you get legal advice.
Have a Policy
Your policy should have examples and definitions of age discrimination, and also grievance procedures and reporting procedures. For instance, your managers should take an immediate course of action when they see unacceptable behavior. You will define these actions. Your managers should assess the situation from the perspective of the employee who has been discriminated against. The manager can take that employee aside and assess the situation.
The managers do not have to take formal action during this time. However, they can warn the perpetrator, request the perpetrator to desist and point out the effect of the perpetrator’s behavior. If this does not work or if the harassed employee prefers, the manager can take formal action within the normal disciplinary procedures of your organization.
It is crucial to ensure your policy shows you are committed to providing a supportive work environment for all your employees. Organizations, like ACAS with 30 years of experience, can help you create effective policies and strategies.
Ensure Your Leaders are On-Board
Make sure your managers and directors know the law and the new policy of your company. And make sure they are committed to upholding it.
Ensure Your Organization’s Position is Clear
Announce your company’s age discrimination policy in every staff meeting. Post the details of the policy on bulletin boards. You can also include your age discrimination policy in your employee handbook.
Train to Prevent It
Hire specialists to train your employees and raise employee awareness if there are no specialists in these subjects in your company. Make sure all your employees participate in the training. The purpose of the training to help your employees understand and change their behavior.
The training covers areas, such as harassment and discrimination. It helps your employees understand why discrimination and harassment are unlawful, hurtful, and not accepted in your company. Make sure your staff knows what to do if they witness discrimination or if someone subjects them to it. Encourage individual responsibility in your company. For elder law litigation
Promotion and Training
Make sure development opportunities, such as job-related training, opportunities for promotion, etc. are available to your employees regardless of their age. (Except if there are legally justified reasons for age criteria). Make sure the location and the style of training suit employees of all ages. This will encourage all employees to take part in the training.
Encourage Mentoring
Embrace mentoring to create a great work environment in your company. You can pair employees of different ages. Employees of any age will pass on their experience, either downwards or upwards. Therefore, they can help each other develop through their unique skills and knowledge.