Updated figures published today by the Employment Tribunals Service show that the number of age discrimination claims accepted by employment tribunals increased by more than a third, 37 per cent,  over the past year.

The published figures also reveal that the median amount awarded by tribunals in age-related cases is on a par with several other discrimination strands: £5,868, although maximum awards are significantly lower than those awarded in four out of the other five discrimination strands: £48,710 compared with race (£374,922), sex (£442,366), disability (£729,347), sexual orientation (£163,725).

TAEN – The Age and Employment Network believes that the relatively small number of successful applications (2 per cent or 95 claims all told) is a function of the complexity of bringing claims and proving age discrimination has occurred.