Landmark judgement for 'too young' employee

A 20-year-old woman has become the first person to win an age discrimination claim on the grounds that she was too young.

Megan Thomas, from Shirley Oaks Village, Surrey, worked as a membership secretary of an exclusive London club but told a tribunal she had been dismissed after managers told her she was not old enough to deal with their members.

A landmark ruling by a London Employment Tribunal ruled that Thomas was unfairly dismissed and discriminated against on the grounds of her age at the Eight Member Club in central London.

The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, which came into force on 1 October 2006, make it unlawful to discriminate against workers under the age of 65 on the grounds of age. To date, the cases that have been brought under the legislation have referred to employees who have suffered discrimination for being older.

Thomas' solicitor, Lawrence Davies, told The Independent:

"This is the first time that the courts have said age discrimination adversely affects the young and young- looking as well as the old. We would hope that more young workers exercise their employment rights."

After the ruling Thomas said:

"I was upset to lose my job. I had never lost a job before. It was humiliating especially because I was told I was too young and if they had met me a few years later there may not have been a problem."

The club's owner said that they he will appeal the decision, and that he employed several young people.

He added:

"It's a very strange ruling because this is a young person's business and many of the waiters and waitresses working here are the same age or even younger than Megan. She had finished her six months' probation and had made some mistakes, so we decided to end her employment."

Thomas has since found another job.