Ageism and Employers

[derekpara]

I have turned seventy and work for my local authority on a casual but specialised basis. This involves me travelling to London and surrounding areas by car and train as well as a fair bit of walking. I am very fit for my age, mentally on top form and good at my job (Education Advisor)

I know that my employer can dispense with my services simply by not giving me work, which is paid on an hourly basis, but can they legally get rid of me purely because of my age ?

Thanks.

Derek

[buildersmate]

There's a compulsory retirement age of 65 in the UK - in that an employer doesn't have to retain the services of an employee (or even offer redundancy termination) once the employee gets to 65 but wants to contunie working.
But I suspect that this is anyway irrelevant to your situation - even if you were not over 65 - because it sounds as if you have a temporary casual contract where you are regarded as self-employed on a contract-by-contract basis? Surely they pay you gross without deductions? In which case your final sentence is true.

[derekpara]

No, BM, I am paid an hourly rate which is taxed at source. Guess I'll have to read the small print in my contract.

Thanks.

Derek