Research into age discrimination has found that it remains widespread in UK organisations with managers and personnel officers admitting to discriminating against workers because of their age.

The findings produced by the Chartered Management Institute and the Chartered Institiute of Personnel and Development are takne from survey responses by 2682 managers and personnel professionals.

Six in ten respondents reported that they have been personally disadvantaged at work because of their age and nearly a quater of those surveyed admitted that age had had an impact on their own recruitment decisions.

The research also revealed that almost half of those surveyed had suffered age discrimination through job applications while 39% believe their chances of promotion have been hindered by age discrimination.  The cliamis backed up by individual perceptions of age where over half (63%) of respondents believed that workers between the ages of 30-39 years old had the best promotion prospects, with only 2% citing 50 year-olds or above.

UNISON retired members officer Colin derrig said that the research confirms what is already known, that age discrimination is widespread in employment.

"Age discrimination differs from other forms of discrimination because it will affect everyone of us in some way at some stage in our lives" he said.

UNISON believes that age should not be used as a condition for recruitment, selection, training or promotion - decisions should be based on merit.  It is hoped that the age regulations being introduced in October 2006 will address age discrimination in employment and training.