Department for Work and Pensions

DWP developed a Diversity and Equality policy statement back in 2002 and specified age as an area where DWP "will provide equality of opportunity", therefore committing the department to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination on the basis of age within its policies and their implementation.

In preparation for the introduction of age legislation we have recently produced various communications for staff, which details the impact on them as an employee, as a manager and in their job. A message from Leigh Lewis, DWP Permanent Secretary, will also be available on the internal website on Monday 2 October highlighting the new legislation on age.

The department has also reconsidered their policy on retirement and from 1 October there is no longer a mandatory retirement age in DWP, for staff in grades below the Senior Civil Service. By removing our current retirement age of 65, we are giving everyone more choice about managing their working lives and planning for retirement.

Ann Cooper, DWP Diversity and Equality Division, Department for Work and Pensions

HSBC

HSBC sits on the Executive Steering Committee of the Employers Forum on Age and has played a vital role in helping to shape the final age regulations, together with other employers. Our approach to managing all aspects of diversity is about moving beyond compliance into best practice. The age laws present an excellent opportunity for us at HSBC to further enhance its policies and practices to ensure colleagues of all ages are effectively supported at work.

Elaine Bromberg, Diversity Manager, HSBC Bank plc.

Centrica

The new Age Regulations are the biggest piece of employment legislation for the last decade. They are as complex and comprehensive as sex and race laws, but they are not for minority groups they are for everyone. At Centrica, age has been a key part of our diversity strategy and policies for a number of years. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense. At a practical level, we have developed an e-learning awareness package for line managers, already revised our recruitment and retirement processes and under discussion with the Trade Unions on our redundancy arrangements, which have traditionally contained age-enhanced payments.

Alf Turner, Director of HR, British Gas

Department for Transport

DfT has a long standing policy of promoting diversity and seeking to support and make the best use of all our employees. It is vital to our success as an organisation that all employees, of all ages, are treated with respect and they are supported in developing to their full potential.

Phil Pool, Diversity Manager, Department for Transport