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Age Discrimination and older workers: is self-employment a response to ageism

Category: Journal Articles

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Harper, S. (2022). Age Discrimination and older workers: is self-employment a response to ageism? Quaestio Iuris., Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 15, N.03.,

Objective
This paper explores the motivations of UK men moving to self-employment after age 50 and considers the role of ageism and age discrimination in this move.
Methods
Qualitative data from older self-employed adults in the IT industry in the UK’s ‘M4 corridor’ area was analysed. It compares those moving in 2002/3 with 2015/6, ten years after the UK introduced EU Age Discrimination legislation in 2006.
Results
Counter-intuitively, ageism and age discrimination was noted far higher in the second time frame when there were legal constrictions than in the first time period, when there was no age-discrimination legislation.
Considerations
The paper concludes that age discrimination was present in both time periods, but that the legislation has raised workers consciousness rather than reduced the discrimination.

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