The toolkit outlines the relevant provisions of the federal Age Discrimination Act and provides guidance, case studies and a checklist for promoting the inclusion and value of older workers.
NSW 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.”
He said that businesses can use the guide as a first step in building broadly skilled, multigenerational workplaces that contribute to longer, healthier and more productive working lives for Australians.
“That’s good for business, great for the community, and excellent for older Australians.”
Age Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Kay Patterson, said that Australians are increasingly continuing to work and wanting to work as they get older.
“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,” she said.
Download the toolkit, Multigenerational workforces: a guide to the rights of older workers under the Age Discrimination Act 2004
