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LMI-Learning is being developed by the Institute for Employment Research , University of Warwick, together with KnowNet. Financial support has come from the Sector Skills Development Agency.

Take the age-law quiz!

A law banning age discrimination in the workplace came into force on 1 October 2006. The following quiz originally appeared in the BBC site - see BBC NEWS | Business | Age discrimination quiz. Employment lawyers have said this represents the biggest shake-up of workplace law for over 30 years.

How much do you know about your new rights at work? Just for fun, click on the correct options below (you can change your mind as often as you like). Click the 'Show Answers' button to see how you did (the button turns into a 'Hide Answers' button which you can click to hide the answers if you want to try again). Print the page for a plainer version of the questions and answers.

Show Answers
Show Answers

  1. Is it unlawful for an employer to ask for your date of birth on a job application form?







    The correct answer is B.

    You can still be asked for your date of birth. However, one employer, Asda, recently announced that it would be removing the date of birth question from its application forms.



  2. You are asked in a job interview how would you feel about being managed by a younger person. Is this question unlawful?







    The correct answer is A.

    Experts have said this is unlawful. There have already been tribunal cases in Ireland - which has had age discrimination laws since 1998 - as a result of this question being asked.



  3. You buy your colleague a fortieth birthday card which contains a joke about them 'being over the hill.' Your boss says this is ageist and unlawful. Is your boss right?







    The correct answer is B.

    Legally speaking your boss is wrong but is sensible to be cautious. Employment lawyers say ageist jokes could be used as part of a case for age discrimination.



  4. You are due to retire in six months and your boss refuses to put you on a training course. Does your boss have the legal right to say no?







    The correct answer is A.

    It is true that it is usually illegal to deny someone access to training on age grounds. However, if the employer can show that they can not recoup the costs of your training during your remaining time they can deny you training.



  5. Your employer refuses to let you become a member of the workplace pension scheme until you are age 21. Is this legal?







    The correct answer is A.

    Employers will continue to be allowed to operate pension schemes which have a minimum or maximum age for admission.



  6. Your employer tells you that, under the new law, you are free to request to stay on beyond age 65 but there is no point as they always say no. Is your employer's attitude unlawful?







    The correct answer is B.

    Under the new law you only have the right to request to stay on beyond age 65. The employer is free to refuse your request to work on and does not have to give a reason in writing.



  7. Your employer agrees to let you stay on at work beyond age 65 but wants to alter your terms and conditions. Is the employer allowed to do this?







    The correct answer is B.

    This is unlawful. Employers have to offer staff the same terms and conditions regardless of their age.



  8. You want to keep working beyond age 65 but you want to change your working hours. Does your employer have to accept a change of working hours?







    The correct answer is B.

    Your employer does not have to allow you to work different hours because you have reached a certain age.



  9. Your manager denies you a promotion because you are under 25 and would not command the respect of clients. Is your manager acting unlawfully?







    The correct answer is A.

    Being too young to command the respect of clients is not a legitimate legal reason to deny you promotion.



Last modified 2007-07-03 03:04 PM
Last cached: 2008-05-06 10:09 AM