Age Discrimination

I'm just curious whether anyone has noticed any real problems with age discrimination while seeking work in the UK.  I'm a 55-year-old American, currently living in Sweden with my Swedish spouse and I'll have my Swedish citizenship here in another 6 months.  My Swedish is adequate for daily life, but not for working and I still have a good 10 years or so during which I not only need to work, but want to work as well.

Brief history, I do have some old UK job references I could use, since I lived and worked in the UK in the 1980s.  I'd be seeking a secretarial or administrative assistant position, excellent skills, as well as familiarity with British English terms and spellings.  I'm hoping to come over to the UK in late spring to look for work, once I get my EU passport.

Sweden, alas, while a lovely country to live in, does blatantly practice age discrimination, not just with immigrants such as myself, but other Swedes as well.

I just recently read an article about this.  Have a gander at:

http://news.google.co.uk/news?hl=en&ned=uk&q=age+discrimination&btnG=Search+News

I can't say I know anything about age discrimination in the UK but I do know there is no law against it at the moment. That's set to change sometime next year but in all honestly, I can't imagine it changing anything that much mostly because people don't seem to sue much here. I think the law works fairly well in the US because people are so quick to sue.

It's a real thing here indeed.

Interesting set of articles.  I guess I can only hope that since I'm not looking for a career precisely, but a job in a field where there has always been room for well-qualified secretaries, I can find something suitable.  I am told I look at least ten years younger than my age, which might help, and I think I will sign up with a temp agency or two when I get there and see what develops.

We still haven't decided for sure where we'll be living.  London, of course, offers the most opportunities, but it's also the most expensive, in terms of housing and such.  We're also looking at Edinburgh, Leicester, Canterbury, possibly Southampton and Norwich.  Time will tell.

Thanks for the responses.

Our entire workforce of over 100 prople have been made redundant due to closure
of our Poole office.  My job finishes Nov 11th.  I'm going to the US for the holidays and will come back here on Jan 11th and start looking for new employment.  I'll be 60 in March - so I guess I will soon be finding out first hand if age discrimination in the
UK is an issue for me!

Good luck IdahoSwede and Phillygirl.

I know this is a problem in the US as well. My grandmother had a horrible time when she was in her 50's trying to find secretarial work.  However, I saw a report on one of the [US] newsmagazines about some employers, who are specifically seeking out older workers, because they feel they are more reliable and  responsible, etc.  Perhaps this will catch on in the UK? 

From some comments I've read in the trade press, there are certain fields in computing in which I would now be considered "over the hill" with regard to hiring -- And I'm only 39.       

I find that there is a different attitude toward aging in the US and the UK, and that you are considered "over the hill" at an earlier age in the UK.

I work in retirement propositions for an insurance company, and one thing that amazes me is that the retirment age is 60 for women and 65 for men. (I don't understand why the retirement age is lower for women, when they live longer.) And for public sector workers, the retirement age is currently 60, though that is going to go up to 65.  You can actually start collecting retirement income when you're 55.  In my opinion, a 55-year-old with experience would be at the peak of their career.  I was surprised when I got my contract for my job and it said that my contract terminates on my 60th birthday; I'm 40, my grandmother lived to her 90s.

One thing I learned in research for my job is that older people in the US are more active than in the UK.  People in their 70s and over in the US join gyms, go running, etc. (my dad who is 79 is taking tai chi); that's much less common in the UK.

Another thing that I have noticed, and this could just be my localised personal experience, is that you don't see stylish older women who look their age here.  All of the women who dress fashionably seem to be no older than their 30s. It's possible that they are actually older, because you can't always tell someone's age by looking at them, but you rarely see a woman who looks 50 years old and is dressed fashionably.  There seems to be an age at which you have to start dressing like a frump. This is very different than my experience in New York, where there were lots of well-dressed, fashionable women much older than 40.

At work, some women were having a conversation about dying grey hair, and there was an assumption that you automatically dye grey hair, as though no one could possibly want to be seen with grey hair. Lots of women in the US do dye their hair, but there are also women who are very proud of their grey hair.  Grey hair can be very stylish and striking. I've even seen shampoo and hair colouring to enhance the beauty of grey hair in the US.

It's like once you hit 40, you are automatically unattractive, so you either try to pretend to look younger, or just give up on your appearance.

P.S. Just read Phillygirl's post. Phillygirl, as I said earlier 6O is the retirement age for women in the UK. (But that could change.) Sorry.

But is 60 a mandatory retirement age?  If so, that's totally insane.

I realize that people were broken down by 65 in the past, when so many were doing manual labor and at 65, you were probably physically shot and life expectancy wasn't that great, but geeze, Louise, I'm so full of energy at 55.  My husband (who is 59) and I take long-distance bike tours with camping gear on the back.  We walk miles and miles every day with our terrier.  He works out 3 times a week, I belly dance.

His kids are grown up, no kids at home, so no taking time off for school programs or illness or visits to the doctor.  No worries about what to do over school holidays.  I've got a MUCH stronger work ethic now than I did at 25 and my health is much better as well.  I doubt I've been sick more than 3 days in the last 5 years.

Well, we shall see what happens.  I'm coming anyway and will have a good resume and references and be dressed smartly and present myself as best I can (without seeing TOO aggressive, one hopes) and who knows.

But is 60 a mandatory retirement age?  If so, that's totally insane.

In some areas, yes.  There IS a mandatory retirement age here.  In some industries, age discrimination is more prevalent - corporate, management, IT, for ex.  And the law provides little to no recourse.

TBH, a person 55 or over REALLY needs to think long and hard about their career and career prospects if they're planning a move to the UK.  There are some areas that are more flexible, but I'd be a liar if I said things were the same as in the US for someone in their 50s or 60s.  Sad, but true.

Does anybody have any idea if it is the same in the Republic of Ireland?  That's another area we've been considering.

Uh-oh!  I thought 60 was the age a woman could retire but I thought I could work for another 5 years or more if I wanted to.  After all,  my employer would at least be sure I won't be going out on maternity leave!  I've lots of value left.   Like IdahoSwede, I'm very active and healthy, although I don't belly dance-yet!  We got a new system at our job last year and I picked it up just as fast as the twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings in my office. 
Am I to understand that if our office wasn't closing I would have had to leave next March when I turn 60?  I'm going to ask about that at HR, as my curiosity is definitely
aroused now.  There is nothing in my contract that says I'd have to go.
I am not physically, mentally or financially ready to join my hubby on the bowling green just yet!

http://www.agepositive.gov.uk/newsDetail.cfm?sectionid=44&newsid=590

This site provides more details of upcoming regulations.

Be aware, however, that old habits die hard.  On the whole, there's more age discrimination here than in the US.  This will probably change.  Gradually, but it won't be overnight.

I'm facing this myself, as a person who will qualify as a solicitor when she's 40.  So gearing one's career towards areas where there is traditionally less age discrimination or going into business for oneself are things to consider.

Well, I figure I will be okay.  I have great computer skills and am experienced in both legal work (UK as well as US) and medical transcription.  Criminals and doctors are with us always.  I shan't despair.