Co-operative Group hailed for commitment to a

The Co-operative Group has received a new diversity award from agency Age Positive for its work promoting age equality in the workplace.

Age Positive, an initiative launched by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), has named the company as one of its Age Positive Employer Champions.

The Co-operative Group has opted to move beyond its obligations under the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations and removed its contractual retirement age entirely, allowing workers to choose whether or not they want to work beyond the age of 65.

Pensions reform minister, James Purnell, commented: "By recognising the benefits of employing workers regardless of their age, employers like The Co-operative Group attract and retain enthusiastic, experienced and well-trained staff."

"Through actions such as the removal of our retirement age and training for our managers, we have worked to ensure that our employees are judged on ability alone and no other factor," Martin Beaumont, the Co-operative Group chief executive, added.

There are currently 793 employees over the age of 65 in the Co-operative Group and an estimated 11,300 workers over the age of 50. The company has redesigned job application forms to ensure that date of birth is not visible to recruitment managers.

Under new legislation, employers are banned from discriminating against any candidates or workers on account of their age and cannot force anyone to retire before the age of 65.

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Date:17/05/2007 09:26:41