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Small businesses 'not acting to encourage older workers'

Published On 30 May 2007 at 12:31:27

The majority of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK have not put in place measures comply with recent age discrimination laws, new research suggests.

According to Lloyds TSB Business, just 25 per cent of small businesses said they had in place 'right to request' rules for employees. These allow staff to work beyond the age of retirement.

Just under half (45 per cent) the SMEs questioned said they were undecided as to whether they would implement these rules in the future.

Companies which were yet to introduce the rules said it was because they feared it would create more red tape (40 per cent) or that it would make their costs increase (21 per cent).

Despite this, the study also revealed that many SMEs believed that older workers were better in many aspects than younger members of staff.

"Older workers clearly have everything to offer businesses in terms of their skills and knowledge and as this study demonstrates, employers do recognise these strengths," explained Stephen Pegge, head of communications at Lloyds TSB Business.

"Given their positive attitudes to the contribution made by older workers, it is surprising that so many small firms are still undecided about whether to allow their staff to work beyond 65."

When the new rules were introduced in 2006, the Confederation of British Industry said that the regulation was likely to harm SMEs.

 

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