Four former members of staff at the University of Oxford have won their employment tribunal case against the institution after being “forced” to retire at the age of 68.
Judges ruled that Oxford’s “Employer Justified Retirement Age” (EJRA) policy had a “highly discriminatory effect” because it removed “people from their jobs simply because they have attained a particular age”.
One of the aims of the policy – to promote equality and diversity by opening up new opportunities – was “legitimate”, the judgment said, but the EJRA had only contributed to this in a “very small” way, and therefore such discrimination was not justified.
Oxford said it was reviewing the tribunal’s ruling and left open the possibility of an appeal.
