The New Brunswick Human Rights Commission has released a new guideline on age discrimination.
The 65-page document outlines protections provided in the Human Rights Act against age-based discrimination.
It explains the concept of age-based discrimination and describes best practices that employers and housing and service providers must adhere to in order to prevent such discrimination.
“The document emphasizes that age-discriminatory practices and policies in employment, housing and services are often overlooked or hidden, and that ageism or age stereotyping in social attitudes and institutional practices lead to discriminatory treatment of vulnerable groups,” the commission said in a news release.
Claire Roussel-Sullivan, chair of the commission, said employers and housing and service providers need to implement best human rights practices to ensure people do not face barriers because of their age and that people of all ages are treated with respect, dignity and inclusion.
“Age-discrimination protections granted in the act apply to persons of all ages, so children and young adults are also protected,” Roussel-Sullivan said in the news release.
Roussel-Sullivan also issued a reminder to employers that mandatory retirement rules violate the age protections of the act.
She noted that mandatory retirement disproportionately affects women, first-generation immigrants, minimum-wage earners and other groups who may enter the labour force later in life.
“By eliminating age-discriminatory practices and attitudes, we will move closer to the vision of a rights-friendly, equal and inclusive society,” said Roussel-Sullivan.
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