Age

Age UK points out that many people are working until later in life, some out of choice and others for financial reasons, and may be affected by health problems while still in employment. Previously, there was an upper age limit for payment of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) which has been removed, and other aspects of the sick pay scheme, absence management regime or the job itself should also not discriminate. Age is a protected characteristic under EA 2010.

Best practice guidelines, Good work, good health, agreed between the international federation for telecoms unions, Uni-Europa, and the European telecoms employers’ organisation, ETNO, have been useful in addressing the health issues of an ageing workforce raised within BT. The focus at BT has been on:

• attitudes — how do the employer and co-workers view older workers?

• health — as humans age their health declines. How do we deal with that?

• mental health — as humans age, their mental health can decline. The stresses that can be caused by age-related discrimination and a decline in physical health both impact on mental health. A lack of perceived justice in the workplace is recognised as a serious source of stress;

• mitigating harm and rehabilitation — older workers are more likely to suffer bouts of ill health, and they may develop underlying health-related conditions which means that they may take longer to recover from illness or accidents. There is a specific and increasing role for rehabilitation; and

• dignity — all workers eventually retire — it is part of the organisation’s agenda to want them to be able to do so with dignity.