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An age-old problem

5th October 2006
Page 9
Page 9, 5th October 2006 — An age-old problem
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Mr X wonders how the age discrimination legislation that has just come into force will benefit the ageing road transport industry.

I'm not the person to talk to about age discrimination. Time tself, I feel, has discriminated against me, simply because I've hung around too long. I see evidence of its injustice in the creases around my eyes and the breathless wheezing that accompanies any exertion. Harsh penalties are not exacted of the young — it's all most unfair.

On a more serious note, I don't dispute that there may oe some use for legislation outlawing age discrimination In other industries and sectors. However, I have no Idea what it could contribute to ours. We have an ageing industry—tar from older people being ousted, we're desperate to cling on to them.

Any road transport operator who discriminates against age and experience doesn't have the sense he was born with. As the baby boomer generation nears retirement we have huge numbers of directors over the age of 60 and a large proportion over 65. They have grown up with trucks, know the business inside out and many of them still love it.

The industry would be far poorer for their loss— but we do need succession policies. It's frightening how many family firms have ageing directors and no one with the skills or inclination to take over when those directors finally turn their attention to Saga magazine and vineyard holidays in Tuscany.

But as long as insurers are allowed to leverage a premium penalty against the young we will still struggle to employ them before they are lost to another industry. The age discrimination law doesn't protect youth from discrimination; it just shifts the blame. We need these young people and we need them at affordable prices. What we don't need are more rules that fail to provide adequate solutions.

The whole premise of anti-discrimination In business is wrong. Discrimination Is about judgement and choice. The law is wrong; we should be discriminating —and we should choose the future every time.

"The whole premise of antidisaimination in business is wrong. The law is wrong. Discrimination is about choke"

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