Age discrimination wrt min wage

[Kirstyshine]

Is it lawful to choose a younger candidate because min wage is lower for them and so would cost your business less?

(I’m thinking of applying for a minimum wage job and wondering about this)

It must happen with teaching, I guess? As more experienced teachers cost schools more. I think schools try to fudge it though, so maybe it’s not really ok?

No, that would be unlawful age discrimination. I'm sure it happens as enforcement relies on disappointed candidates taking legal action. But it is clearly against the law. An employer must choose the best candidate for the position regardless of age.

Happens in retail all the time unfortunately

Healthcare

I’ve worked in care homes and staff were paid the same regardless of age. Just because it’s minimum wage doesn’t necessarily mean they are paying min wage across all age groups .

I worked in education for 25 years and this never happened.

It happens ALL the time. It’s a secondary reason that I believe minimum/living wage should be the same regardless of what age you are, the first reason being obviously that it’s unfair that you would be paid a lower wage than a colleague purely based on your age.