Firm bans 'ageist' birthday cards

**Maggy J** · 11-10-2006, 19:03

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/6040196.stm

I bet when the present government decided to implement the new laws they had no idea to what extremes it would go...

When did we become sooooo negative and blinkered in our outlook?

foreverwar · 11-10-2006, 19:13

We fear do anything that may cause offence, therefore we end up doing nothing - sad.

monkey2468 · 11-10-2006, 19:39

It is rather extreme. All the staff need to do is all sign it before walking onto work premises, then give it to the person.

I'd rather have cakes than a card anyway. Unless the card was made of cake

, but then I suppose it wouldn't be called a card then!

punky · 11-10-2006, 19:47

How long is it before the cake gets banned as well due to obesity health laws? And food preparation laws safety laws (like bake sales at fetes being banned?)

**Rob** · 11-10-2006, 20:03

This is the inevitable conclusion of any employer fearful of the ever tightening noose of red tape and the consequent "where there's blame there's money" culture pervading society at the hands of the human rights do-gooder brigade. Common sense no longer applies in this country as a result of ill considered bureaucracy, and as such our wolrd becomes a boring place.

Damien · 11-10-2006, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

How long is it before the cake gets banned as well due to obesity health laws? And food preparation laws safety laws (like bake sales at fetes being banned?)

This was mostly because of a over-zealous company and lawyers than the law itself.

TheDaddy · 11-10-2006, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

This was mostly because of a over-zealous company and lawyers than the law itself.

Why did they behave this way though, because of the way other employment laws have been interpreted in the past

AntiSilence · 11-10-2006, 20:56

Pathetic. This is all getting way out of control now. Can't do this, can't do that

Jules · 11-10-2006, 21:00

How stupid for gods sake how long will it be before it is offensive to breath!!!

**Paul M** · 11-10-2006, 21:01

Just more confirmation that lunatics now run our lives.

Julian · 11-10-2006, 21:09

Well they haven't stopped making "ageist" cards, so are they going to mark them with a warning " Not for use in the workplace"

**Rob** · 11-10-2006, 21:22

I think if I worked there I'd wait for the boss's next birthday, and ensure he/she was presented with an appropriate card!

cookie_365 · 11-10-2006, 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob C

This is the inevitable conclusion of any employer fearful of the ever tightening noose of red tape and the consequent "where there's blame there's money" culture pervading society at the hands of the human rights do-gooder brigade. Common sense no longer applies in this country as a result of ill considered bureaucracy, and as such our wolrd becomes a boring place.

No it's not. This firm needs to sack their lawyers and get competent ones. I can recommend plenty of good solictors specialising in employment law in the Bournemouth area. In fact, they don't really need a specialist. I've spoken to several family-only lawyers in Dorset recently who seem more clued up on the regs.

There's guidance all over the place for employers explaining the new age discrimination regs. If the managers of this company aren't capable of reading and understanding it, and don't know what harrassment is, they shouldn't be in their jobs.

Why isn't it common sense to have laws protecting people from harrassment?

**Rob** · 11-10-2006, 23:33

The problem is that the companies find it easier to stop anything that might give rise to a greviance, however unjustified and pathetic that issue might be, simply because it saves the costs and time of defending it when some mercenary soul claims their feelings have been offended. That their lawyer consultations suggest the company has been advised to stop the use of these cards indicates the law isn't as clear cut as you might think.

And if it seems that I'm being melodramatic, nobody expected the wave of spurious claims that were brought under the Human Rights Act. The law is an ass.

homealone · 11-10-2006, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookie_365

No it's not. This firm needs to sack their lawyers and get competent ones. I can recommend plenty of good solictors specialising in employment law in the Bournemouth area. In fact, they don't really need a specialist. I've spoken to several family-only lawyers in Dorset recently who seem more clued up on the regs.

There's guidance all over the place for employers explaining the new age discrimination regs. If the managers of this company aren't capable of reading and understanding it, and don't know what harrassment is, they shouldn't be in their jobs.

Why isn't it common sense to have laws protecting people from harrassment?

maybe because, with all due respect, the law is still an ass ;