South-east law firm Thomas Eggar this week became only the second law firm to be awarded Age Positive champion status.

The government-initiated campaign makes the award to organisations that show commitment to tackling age discrimination in their workplace and taking steps to change their employment practices.


It has been set up to help employers prepare for the age discrimination legislation that comes into force on 1 October 2006. The scheme promotes the benefits of employing a mixed-age workforce that includes younger, as well as older, people. It also encourages employers to make decisions about training and recruitment that do not discriminate against age.


Governmernt: age campaign

Thomas Eggar managing partner Tony Edwards said: ‘It is important to have a balanced workforce. Thomas Eggar has always prided itself on employing people because of the skills they will bring to the firm, not because of their age. We welcome the new legislation and think it will benefit businesses throughout the UK.’

The firm’s HR director, Ann Emery, added that for the past two years, the firm has adopted a ‘quiet but consistent approach on age’ at both ends of the spectrum; for example, the firm’s head of quality and standards has continued to work beyond retirement at 65, but on a part-time basis, while secretaries who retire often join its bank of floats, working a few days a month.


Fewer than 8% of the 7,000 solicitors who qualified in 2002-3 – the most recent year for which there are statistics – were aged 40 or older.


More than 100 organisations have received the champion status, ranging from major high street retailers to public authorities and much smaller bodies. Regional firm Morgan Cole is the only other legal practice, and it has also helped two of its clients – Focus DIY and Maritz – become champions.


In June, Morgan Cole was presented with a special contribution award by Age Positive, for its efforts in implementing age positive policies, particularly the launch of a two-year campaign to support human resources professionals and their organisations in the lead up to the 2006 legislation.

Other initiatives by Morgan Cole include asking all recruitment companies used by the firm to sign a declaration that they will not discriminate on its behalf on grounds of age and surveying the whole firm to understand opinions and attitudes to age diversity.