Upcoming Events :
Seminar: Outsourcing and Contract Procurement
Tue 28 Feb 2012
Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London, SE1 9BB
Recruiters 'fear older workers cannot cope with high-pressure jobs'
Thu 15 Apr 2010
Many recruiters may be breaching employment law by overlooking older people for high-pressure roles.
This is the finding of a new study by the British Psychological Society, which said managers believe people aged under 55 are more able to meet demanding targets than their older counterparts.
The research also showed that employers tend to opt for candidates aged around 35 when recruiting for high-pressure jobs.
According to Dr Dinah Bisdee of King's College London, this attitude may leave bosses open to charges of ageism.
She said the decisions made by bosses with regards to recruitment demonstrate their desire to reduce the risk of their workforce underperforming.
However, Dr Bisdee stated that they are based on the "unfounded negative stereotypes" that exist about older employees.
Sue Kelly, employment law partner at Winckworth Sherwood solicitors, said: "There are undoubtedly many unfounded negative stereotypes about older employees – as there are about younger ones.
"Employers need to recognise this.
"It is only by approaching the recruitment process with a genuinely open mind that they will achieve the desired aim of avoiding underperformance in the workforce, not to mention discrimination claims."
The study also revealed that bosses are guided by other factors when deciding who to take on, such as how many family and non-work commitments a candidate has, as well as what recent qualifications they have gained.
This comes after business group the CBI argued against scrapping the default retirement age.
