IT’S BUSINESS TIME FOR OLDER WORKERS

The NSW Government is stepping up the fight against age discrimination in the workplace announcing a new toolkit to help employers, managers and HR professionals engage and retain older workers.

Minister for Seniors John Sidoti said it makes no sense to have such a highly skilled, experienced section of the community sidelined from work.

“Research shows that potential employers too often overlook, poorly manage and disregard older workers,” Mr Sidoti said.

“That’s why we’ve worked with our partners at the Australian Human Rights Commission to develop a toolkit to help employers recognise and reject unlawful age discrimination and start discovering the benefits of older workers.”

Mr Sidoti urged businesses to use the guide as a first step in changing their workplaces for the better.

“Employers have the power to build broadly skilled, multigenerational workplaces that contribute to longer, healthier and more productive working lives for Australians,” Mr Sidoti said.

“That’s good for business, great for the community, and excellent for older Australians.”

Age Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Kay Patterson, said the guide showed how excluding older workers, deprived employers of willing, skilled and dedicated staff with a lifetime of varied experiences.

“Australians are increasingly continuing to work and wanting to work as they get older,” Dr Patterson said.

“But data shows that 30 per cent of employers are still reluctant to hire workers over a certain age and for most of those employers that age is 50”.

The toolkit, called Multigenerational workforces: a guide to the rights of older workers under the Age Discrimination Act 2004, is available now athttps://www.humanrights.gov.au/olderworkers

MEDIA: Nick Marshall-McCormack | 0448 725 289