The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has warned that ageism in the UK is deeply embedded in society – and in the workplace.
A new report calls for stronger legal protections against age discrimination and a cross-Government strategy to address the challenges of an ageing population. The report raises concerns that existing laws, including the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), are failing to protect older people effectively and are rarely enforced.
MPs found evidence that ageist stereotypes are common in UK media, with older people often portrayed as frail or helpless, or conversely, as wealthy “boomers” who are out of touch. These stereotypes contribute to a culture of ageism that harms individuals and fuels generational division.
Age discrimination affects all areas of life – including the workplace. A recent survey by the Centre for Ageing better, undertaken as part of its Age Without Limits campaign, found that one in four people (24%) believe it does not make business sense to employ someone over the age of 50, citing perceptions of slower work and reduced adaptability. More than one in five (22%) view providing in-job training for workers over 50 as a waste of resources, assuming older employees are unlikely to remain in their roles for long.
The WEC recommends that the UK Government examine the approach taken in Wales, which has a Commissioner for Older People and a network of local authority Older People’s Champions. This framework supports a national strategy aimed at addressing age-related issues, and the report suggests that England could benefit from a similar system.
Demographic Change and Legal Reforms
With 11 million people in England and Wales aged 65 or older, and over half a million aged over 90, WEC argues that the UK’s equalities framework lacks a clear focus on demographic change. The report calls for the Cabinet Office to establish a dedicated unit within the Office of Equality and Opportunity (OEO) to analyse data on key challenges affecting older people.
Sarah Owen, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and Labour MP, said, “The Committee’s report shows clearly that age discrimination is widespread in the UK and often minimised compared to other forms of discrimination.
“A comprehensive review of age discrimination law is a necessary step in tackling the UK’s pervasively ageist culture. The UK’s growing and increasingly diverse ageing population presents significant cross-departmental challenges and opportunities, so the lack of a Government strategy on how to respond to these issues is concerning.”
The Committee also recommends that the Government commission and fund the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to review the effectiveness of protections against age discrimination. This review should consider the impact of allowing objective justification of direct age discrimination, the adequacy of the PSED, and whether employers should face stronger duties to prevent age discrimination.
Digital Exclusion and Regulatory Reforms
The report raises concerns about digital exclusion, particularly in areas such as healthcare, local government services, benefits, and banking. It states that some older people are at high risk of being excluded from essential services due to increasing reliance on digital platforms.
“Technology has become the default for many public services, meaning a refreshed Digital Inclusion Strategy is more important than ever. It is a considerable failure of government that the Digital Inclusion Strategy has not been updated, nor progress tracked, for a decade,” said Owen.
She added that a lot more was required to deal with ageism across society, from healthcare access to banking and transport.
