€12k for being ‘retired’ by employer at age 66

A book-keeper who was ‘retired’ by her employer on reaching the age of 66 has been awarded €12,000 in an age discrimination case.

In a ruling by the Workplace Relations Commission, a family-run retail business was directed to pay the woman after her employment ended when she turned 66.

The award is one of a number of similar rulings made by the WRC where the employer had no employment contract in place to confirm the employee will retire at a certain age.