24 September 2008
Gordon Lishman, the director general of Age Concern, said that
"millions of older workers in the European Union will be fuming"
following the Advocate-General's response in the Heyday case which
failed to ban compulsory retirement at 65. Mr Lishman went on to
say: "In the UK ageism is already the most commonly experienced
form of prejudice and more than a million people are already
working past state pension age."
However, Aon believes that businesses will welcome the opinion.
Matthew Lawrence, risk consultant at Aon Consulting said: "This is
good news for business. This decision removes one potential
minefield from businesses stacked in-tray of employment issues. If
the European Court of Justice endorses the opinion offered by the
Advocate - General, this would no doubt be welcomed by employers
who have in recent times had to contend with a number of complex
legislative issues relating to pensions and other employee
benefits."
