Reforming Age Discrimination Law: Beyond Individual Enforcement

Age is a critical issue for labor market policy, and ageism remains prevalent despite the introduction of age discrimination laws. Reforming Age Discrimination Law offers a roadmap for legal reform and change to better address workplace ageism. The book provides a socio-legal critique of existing laws and proposes a four-fold model of reform to improve the individual enforcement model, strengthen positive equality duties, bolster the roles of statutory equality agencies, and enhance collective enforcement.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 23 June 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Age is a crucial factor in labor market policy, impacting both younger and older workers. Despite the existence of age discrimination laws, ageism persists in the workplace. Reforming Age Discrimination Law provides a roadmap for the future development of age discrimination law in common law countries, aiming to address workplace ageism effectively. Drawing from theoretical, doctrinal, and empirical legal scholarship, as well as comparative perspectives from the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, the book offers a socio-legal critique of existing age discrimination laws and their enforcement. It proposes concrete suggestions for legal reform and change, building on legal and interdisciplinary insights.

The book examines the challenges and limitations of existing legal frameworks and the individual enforcement model for combating age discrimination in employment. It also maps the stages of claiming, negotiation, or alternative dispute resolution, and hearing and judgment, using mixed-method case studies of the enforcement of age discrimination law in the United Kingdom and Australia.

The volume presents a four-fold model of reform, aimed at improving the individual enforcement model, strengthening positive equality duties, bolstering the roles of statutory equality agencies, and enhancing collective enforcement. It critically considers how these options can address the limitations of existing laws and the practical measures necessary to ensure their success, moving beyond the individual enforcement of age discrimination law.

In conclusion, Reforming Age Discrimination Law is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in addressing age discrimination in the workplace. It offers a comprehensive analysis of existing legal frameworks, proposes practical solutions for legal reform, and provides insights into the practical measures necessary for successful implementation. By promoting positive equality and collective enforcement, the book contributes to a more inclusive and fair labor market for all workers, regardless of age.

Weight: 738g
Dimension: 242 x 161 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198859284