Discrimination Faced by Elderly People: Legislation and Case Law

LAW SOCIETY AND
CONTROVERSY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND....................................................................................1
Social group and area of discrimination they are facing.............................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
Identification and discussion of Legislation................................................................................1
Identification and discussion of Case law...................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REREFENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Discrimination can be divided as an act of making distinction between human beings on
the basis of their cast, race, category etc. There are various kinds of social groups that face
discrimination due to many reasons within society (Drennan and et. al., 2018). May times due to
these discrimination various kinds of controversies are also increasing. This report will lay
emphasis upon elderly people social group and discrimination faced by them. In this report
legislation and case law related to discrimination faced by elderly people will be discussed.
Social group and area of discrimination they are facing
Discrimination in older people is one of the most common issue which is being faced by
many elderly people in many countries. It is one of the most serious issue which is being faced
by elder people today. Discrimination in elder people is quite complex but has been categorised
into two categories: first category is their age and gender and second category are based upon
their health status or their disability. But other than this they also face discrimination on the basis
of their ethnic origin, language spoken etc. Most commonly elder people face age discrimination
and health discrimination.
MAIN BODY
Identification and discussion of Legislation
It has been identified that older people face various kinds of discriminations at workplace,
healthcare and at many other places. At workplace many times senior workers who are above 50
are discriminated on the basis of their age. Many times, elder aged people are laid off wen they
cross a certain age. But in order to protect elder people from this discrimination a legislative act
has been developed to reduce changes of age discrimination faced by elder people at workplace.
“Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act” is a legislative act that helps in
protecting older people and reduces their chances of facing discrimination. This Act helps in
protection of work rights, civil rights of older people in a proper and appropriate manner
(Drydakis and et. al., 2017). Government has also introduced Equality Act, 2010 that says that no
one should be discriminated on the basis of their age or because their fall under a certain age
group. This legislation helps in protection of older people from facing age discrimination. This
Act is applicable in all the workplaces which helps in working as a protection for older people
and also helps then in providing all kinds of benefits. Another legislation that has been developed
for older people so that protection to them can be provided is Gender pay Act, 2019. This Act
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