Your legal responsibilities
Older Australians represent the fastest-growing, most affluent segment of the consumer market - and older customers may prefer to deal with people who are similar to them and understand their needs.
Consider what an older person can offer you:
- You own a hardware store and a 55 year old former builder applies for a counter job.
- You sell a wide range of aids for older people and you want a sales assistant who can relate to your customers.
Employment
Discriminating against someone on the basis of age is unlawful in Queensland. The Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (PDF, 785 KB) was introduced to "promote equality of opportunity for everyone by protecting them from unfair discrimination in certain areas of activity..."
When interviewing job applicants, considering who to promote, allocating training, or planning to downsize your business through redundancy, you must not make a decision based on someone's age.
Workplace health and safety
Under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (PDF, 766 KB), Queensland employers have an obligation to ensure the workplace health and safety of all workers (regardless of age and fitness), visitors and customers.
You are responsible for providing:
- safe work areas, machinery and equipment
- information, instruction, training and supervision
- personal protective equipment.
As an employer, you must also have workers' compensation insurance to ensure that an employee injured at work receives financial support.
Last update June 9, 2006
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