Recruiting and retaining older workers is still an area where small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) need work, according to one expert.
A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said today that currently SMEs were still looking at older workers with outdated beliefs and should review their existing policies.
"Much more work remains to encourage employers to recognise the cost and practical benefits of … older workers," he said.
Although the government were working to change things more legislation needed to be introduced to protect employees, he added
"Employers are urged to review their employment practices to ensure their company follows the age discrimination laws."
New legislation in the shape of the Employment Equality Regulations were amended in April 2007 to state that all workers have the same rights to claim unfair dismissal or receive redundancy pay.
