Hot off the press comes news, via the BBC website,  that the Heyday challenge to the default retirement age has been defeated in the High Court.  This means that it is not illegal for employers to insist that an employee retires on their 65th birthday, although that conflicts with the Age Discrimination legislation.  At the moment I have not seen the rationale for the decision but will post on this again when I have.

I have written about this long running case on several previous occasions.  This looks like the end of it now though because the charities behind the action are not going to appeal.  The government has already said that it intends to review the default retirement age next year, so it may well go in due course anyway. 

This result is bad news though for all the people who have had their claims in the Employment Tribunals stayed (“parked”) whilst awaiting the outcome of this case.  Employers meanwhile will be celebrating. 

If you require any further advice on this (or any other topic) please contact me at michaelscutt@dalelangley.co.uk or 0207 464 8433

Related posts:

1. The latest on Heyday
2. Will you be made to retire at 65?
3. Work ’til you drop
4. Do Jobsworths wear moustaches?
5. Age Discrimination – are the floodgates about to open?