This is an interesting one!

I have two thoughts.

First of all I think it's important to emphasise the point you make in the last para - any
member of staff can leave any time; and possibly staff approaching retirement are less
likely to go before their retirement date - though I have no data to justify this.  Also
there is the right to request to continue working which makes the normal retirement age
somewhat less certain, and those who are interested in training may well also be
interested in continuing to work.

Maybe the only safe restriction would be by analogy with recruitment - it is lawful not to
recruit somebody with less than six months to go before normal retiring age?

Jenny

-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Kirsteen Coupar email
Sent: 01 November 2007 10:14
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: staff training and age

I wondered if someone could clarify an issue on staff training and age legislation for me.

Objective justifications for a time experience requirement in recruitment are mentioned,
in that it seems to say : If an experience span or time requirement is felt to be
justified it should not normally be more than five years as a maximum - which implies
there can be objective justifications.

For training, we are saying There must not be any age related bias in selection of staff
for training and developmental activities, unless there are statutory or professional
requirements which meet the terms of the legislation - but I have been queried by a member
of staff on this, saying that if an objective justification for a time experience
requirement can be made for recruitment, then shouldn't it be possible to consider the
time the member of staff has left in employment before retirement as a justification for
not offering some types of training.

I have responded stating that we cannot guarantee continued employment for any staff
member when we offer them training - they could leave immediately after, so that I can't
see this could be considered with reference to retirement age, but must admit to being
unsure as how to interpret this in practice. Can we really expect a School to fund an
expensive course for a member of staff who has 1-2 years left before retirement and will
have little time to use the skills funded?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Kirsteen

Kirsteen Coupar
Diversity Manager
Flat 19A, Aragon
Southwood Site
Avery Hill Campus
University of Greenwich
Eltham
London SE9 2UG