Firm halts office cards for fear of 'ageist' comments

An insurance firm has stopped the circulating of birthday cards for staff to sign amid concern that light hearted "ageist" comments could unwittingly breach the new age discrimination laws.

Teasing remarks such as "It's better to be over the hill than under it" or references to bus passes could cause offence, the company said following legal advice.



Under new laws that were introduced this month, staff can take action against their company if they feel they have been harassed or victimised due to their age.

For many years, directors of Alan & Thomas insurance brokers in Bournemouth, Dorset, have circulated birthday cards which are signed by the 36 staff.

But the company said yesterday it had stopped doing so. Instead it would send a card to each staff member on their birthday, signed by the directors.

Neil Gouldson, an employment law specialist at the Manchester-based firm Rowe Cohen, said: "Gags in birthday cards about people being 'over the hill' will need to be curbed."