Current Style: Standard
Age
Everyone is entitled to equal treatment in community life, regardless of their age. Here’s an example of age discrimination in customer service:
| Corey and some of his mates were hanging out at a shopping centre. They had just bought ice-creams and drinks from one of the stores and were sitting around on tables out the front, laughing and talking. The store owner came out to where they were sitting and told them to take their ice-creams and leave because, ‘having a bunch of teenagers hanging around is bad for business’. |
Age discrimination laws do not affect specific age requirements set by law, for instance, the legal age to vote, drive, buy alcohol or consent to medical treatment.
There are exceptions to the general rule. For instance, competitive sport can be limited by age. Insurance premiums can also be adjusted by age, if there is statistical evidence to show that age makes a difference to risk.
Here’s an example:
| A motor insurance company charged higher premiums for drivers under 25. The company produced claims statistics to show that younger drivers are more likely than older drivers to be involved in crashes that lead to claims. The higher charge was not age discrimination. |
Last updated on Fri, 10/21/2011 - 14:56.
