Discrimination payout - Long way to go to achieve true equality

COMPLAINTS about employment and age are among the major grievances coming before the Equality Authority and this lends added significance to the compensation award of more than €70,000 to a former employee of An Post.

The State-owned company has been ordered by the Equality Tribunal to compensate the ex-employee, who was prevented from applying for a job because he was over the age of 60.

What makes this case even more important is the fact that several other employees in the group who are also over 60 are considering taking action against An Post on grounds of discrimination.