BT prepares for age discrimination law

New employment legislation will come into force next year

BT is readying its employment and recruitment policies for impending legislation on age diversity in the workforce.

A new law, due to come into force next year, will make discriminating against an employee because of age illegal.

Caroline Waters, director of people and policy at BT Group, says its employment processes have been ahead of this pending legislation for some time.

‘BT’s age diversity policy is not driven by legislation, although we do react to it,’ she said.

BT removed all age limitations from its recruitment 10 years ago, and more recently ended mandatory requirements for employees to retire at 60.

This has created a high percentage of staff in BT who choose to stay beyond their pensionable age. Some 60 per cent of the 150 people who reached retirement age last month stayed with the company, says Waters.

‘There would have to be compelling business or personal reasons why an employee would leave when they reach 60,’ said BT age diversity champion and global services vice president of products Aaron McCormack.

‘They are notified aged 58 that they are approaching an age where they are fo rmally allowed to retire from the business. If they want to stay on, then we make all our flexible working options available to them.’

Waters says the policy has produced benefits.

‘There might be some increase in things such as health insurance, but the benefits outweigh the costs in terms of the experience BT gains and the long-term, loyal relationships we can develop with customers,’ she said.

‘We’re looking at the final draft legislation now because, if there are any issues, I think they will be around indirect discrimination and the need to justify certain practices around long-service awards, for example.’