Too old to work, too young to retire?

Even cash-strapped local authorities in an age of austerity have to treat their employees fairly and without discrimination.

In a case reminiscent of Wooster v Tower Hamlets (in which Royds also acted for the successful employee), Royds are pleased to report an excellent result for our client, a senior manager in local government dismissed just a few months away from being able to take his full pension. Facing the risk of redundancy, our client strongly believes his employment was terminated purely to save his employer the “pension strain” cost of allowing him to take early retirement. As the recent cases confirm, such age discrimination cannot be justified on the basis of costs alone.

Forced to take his case all the way to trial, this week our client saved his employer’s blushes by settling his claims at the door of the Employment Tribunal on terms which recognised his high prospects of success. He now hopes to continue his long career in public service with a different local authority.

Royds advises both employees and employers on all aspects of employment law, including age discrimination. If you have any queries in relation to this blog or the issues covered in it, please contact Gemma Ospedale [email protected] or Hannah May [email protected].