Past It at 40?: A Grassroots View of Ageism and Discrimination in Employment

Why do so many 'older' people who want to work find it difficult to do so? Why are employers reluctant to employ them? Is it purely the effect of discrimination and ageist attitudes? Or are there some other reasons? What can and should be done to achieve change for the better in the future?Past it at 40? provides answers to these questions. It explores, in detail, the experiences of people over 40 trying to enter the labour market, including: people who have been made redundant; the long-term unemployed; women returners; people with disabilities; and people still in a job but needing new skills to keep going. Employers' attitudes, policies and practices are examined, revealing a worrying lack of awareness of national and European legislation in relation to the employment of older people.