People of a particular age in the UK are deemed unemployable, yet people in government who want to run as Prime Minister are not deemed unemployable. Why is that, I wonder?
Apparently, there is no upper-age limit for employment because that is protected by the Equality Act 2010 against age discrimination, but if you were an employer, who would you rather employ, somebody younger that you can pay less and won’t keel over or have a heart attack on the job. However, running for office, you just need to be 18+ to stand because there is also no upper age limit for candidates.
So, when you apply for a position, who are the decision makers? They are the employers and HR teams who make hiring decisions day to day, but when running for office, it’s the voters and political parties that select the candidates; the final decision is by public vote.
When you apply for a job, there are selection incentives because employers prefer ‘fit’ people, and they need to see if the person they will be employing would be cost-effective, and if they would have flexibility, so they judge you on a stereotype for recruitment.
Older politicians are frequently the front-runners in politics because of their experience, notoriety, and incumbency. However, younger candidates are also taken into consideration, and since it costs money, you’ll need a lot of it.
There are formal protections that evidently exist when someone older applies for a position, but enforcement and awareness vary. Many older people report discrimination, but there are a lot who don’t, and just accept that they are too old.
In the political arena, candidacy rules are simple and neutral on age; political campaigning bypasses the employer recruitment process.
Age discrimination at work is common in the UK. Surveys and research show many over‑50s report being turned down for employment or forced out of work because of age.
Although age discrimination is prohibited under employment law, possibilities are nevertheless blocked by hiring practices and perceptions. There are case laws and guidelines, but there are still real obstacles to hiring and advancement.
There is no legal upper age limit to stand for Parliament or most elected offices; you only need to be at least 18. That legal simplicity means older people are not barred from candidacy.
Why is politics more accessible to senior citizens than the workforce?
The reason for this is that employers make routine hiring choices and may apply informal age biases, whereas political parties and votes evaluate candidates on different criteria, such as experience, reputation, and visibility. Also, people who run for office often self-select, mobilise networks, or have party backing; those resources can offset age-related hiring barriers.
Ageism is the most often reported type of workplace discrimination, according to research and surveys, and many older employees feel left out of hiring and advancement opportunities.
Just because someone might be older, that doesn’t mean that the mind does not continue to learn. The body continues, maybe with a little pain now and then. Where was I going with this? Oh damn, I’ve forgotten!
And what is all this doom and gloom about age? Some handle it better than others, but to judge just one cover is wrong. Look around, some people are brilliant at any age.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 