Is this illegal age discrimination?

rubuhoeikanaika

Hi all,

Just curious! I was driving around and saw a sign at a local pub (big sign on the road) saying something like "under 21? casual staff wanted."

I suspect that they want younger staff for minimum wage reasons - but this is straightforwardly illegal, right?

roxy7699

Unless they could prove a legitimate reason for needing someone of that age bracket then I would say yes it is.

HappyMJ

rubuhoeikanaika wrote: »

Hi all,

Just curious! I was driving around and saw a sign at a local pub (big sign on the road) saying something like "under 21? casual staff wanted."

I suspect that they want younger staff for minimum wage reasons - but this is straightforwardly illegal, right?

Yes. They can discriminate on age only to the point the applicant must be aged 18 or over as their primary task is to sell alcohol and the business needs override the Equality Act.

Although a person under 18 can sell and serve alcohol they'd need someone over 18 to approve the sale and the business may not have a need to have another member of staff.

Apply for the job and see what response you get.

PasturesNew

Yes. On the other hand, if you're approaching 50, overweight and driving past thinking "I need a job", then at least you've not wasted your time/effort in applying as you'd never have been picked anyway as their (now) hidden agenda is: to hire somebody cute and perky

maninthestreet

Presumably, the pub wants to employ under 21s because the NMW is lower than that for over 21s......

Gavin83

PasturesNew wrote: »

to hire somebody cute and perky

This is probably as much of a factor as the finance side. Bars want attractive bar staff. In terms of looks people are generally at their best in their late teens, early 20s. Requesting young people just fullfills both roles.

I am genuinely surprised they put it on the advert though, most places would have just dismissed the older applicants in a private room.

Fluff15

Or they think that under 21s are more likely to want to pick up casual shifts at the weekends, and will probably only get a shift once a month.

The advert is still discriminatory, but not necessarily for a 'cute' agenda.

historian

I have just completed filling in a car insurance form and sent it off. I received a notice which said my application had been refused with no reason given but a tel. number offered. The young lady who answered had no idea why but she asked me to hold on and I heard some whispering. She came back and asked me was I 81, I affirmed and she said that was the reason why. Any other person experienced "old" age discrimination?

tomtontom

historian wrote: »

I have just completed filling in a car insurance form and sent it off. I received a notice which said my application had been refused with no reason given but a tel. number offered. The young lady who answered had no idea why but she asked me to hold on and I heard some whispering. She came back and asked me was I 81, I affirmed and she said that was the reason why. Any other person experienced "old" age discrimination?

This is justifiable discrimination - your age puts you into a high risk category, and they choose not to insure high risk drivers. If you speak to a broker they should be able to find you suitable cover.