Requests to continue working after 65 must be considered in good faith

Compass Group Plc v Ayodele [2011] UKEAT 0484_10_1407

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20/08/2011

  • Even where a blanket policy exists to retire all people aged 65, requests to work on must be treated with an open mind
  • It will be very hard for claimants to prove that appeals are not treated in good faith.
  • In this case an admission by the respondent's witness that a rejection was already decided before the appeal decided the case in favour of the claimant

The EAT (HJ UNDERHILL) has ruled in Ayodele v Compass Group that when a request to remain employed after the retirement age at 65 is lodged it must be considered in good faith.

Where a blanket policy of retiring employees at 65 exists the employer must still treat requests requests seriously.

The employer informed Mr Ayodele that he would have to retire at age 65 and of his right to request an extension. The subsequent request was however refused without explanation along with his appeal. At the hearing the respondent's witness admitted that meetings with the Claimant were no more than a formality and that the decision to dismiss was notwithstanding the appeal irrevocable.

Mr Ayodele's complaint to the employment tribunal on the grounds of unfair dismissal and discrimination (age) was upheld. The ET's reasons were based on Schedule 6 to the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 ( paras 7 and 8) whereby good faith and a genuine consideration of a request is needed to fulfill the obligations set down by the regulations.

As noted by the EAT it will be normally difficult to show bad faith in the absence of an admission as happened in this case as an inference may not normally be drawn simply from the refusal of a request to continue working or even where the employer's policy is to reject these requests.

Transcript of the judgement:-   Compass Group Plc v Ayodele [2011] UKEAT 0484_10_1407
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