We are academic staff at Cambridge University, carrying out teaching and research.

At present Cambridge but no other English University apart from Oxford operate a policy called the Employer Justified Retirement Age (EJRA) that forces academics but no other staff category to retire at age 69. The forced retirement age has many negative impacts both for the University and the academics. World leading research often has to be concluded prematurely and many leave Cambridge to take up posts elsewhere that are not subject to these restrictions. The policy is particularly detrimental for women who often lose momentum in mid-career due to family responsibilities only to find progression blocked in later life by forced retirement.

The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate against staff in this way as age is a protected characteristic under the Act. We are challenging the Cambridge's EJRA policy at an Employment Tribunal contending that the policy amounts to severe age discrimination that is not objectively justified. We are asking the Court to declare that the EJRA is unlawful. 

The University intend to defend the case vigorously and will spare no expense with it likely to be hiring high powered barristers to argue their case. To combat this, we need equivalent legal fire power, and this is very expensive - we expect our costs to be in the region of £100,000. In the circumstances we are asking colleagues and others who are sympathetic to contribute through Crowd Justice.

We have a preliminary hearing in July. and hope that the case will be heard in full soon after that. If we win our cases, it will put pressure on the University to end the EJRA policy. Even if the Tribunal finds in our favour, we are likely to receive only a fraction of our total costs in compensation, so we are hoping to raise up to £100,000.

A big thank you to all who contribute! And if you would like advice or information about taking an Employment Tribunal case do get in touch.