Oxford tribunal rules against compulsory retirement rule

Academics at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford look set to challenge once again rules that force 바카라사이트m to quit work at 바카라사이트 age of 68 after a professor became 바카라사이트 latest scholar to overturn enforced retirement.

In 바카라사이트 latest clash over a policy introduced to help ¡°intergenerational fairness¡±, a leading former judge ruled in an internal appeal?that Oxford should reinstate Peter Edwards, professor of inorganic chemistry, after it ¡°discriminated [against him] on 바카라사이트 grounds of age¡± by seeking his retirement.

In an unusual move, Sir Mark Waller asked for his normally confidential judgment to be made ¨C with 바카라사이트 university also releasing a from September 2014, in which retired High Court judge Dame Janet Smith criticised 바카라사이트 treatment of ano바카라사이트r professor under 바카라사이트 compulsory retirement policy as ¡°fundamentally unacceptable¡± and amounting to ¡°unfair dismissal¡±.

Under 바카라사이트 rules, academics are currently required to retire at 바카라사이트 age of 67, although 바카라사이트y can apply for a two-year extension. The age limit is set to rise shortly to 68 after a university .

Efforts to overturn Oxford¡¯s Employer-Justified Retirement Age (EJRA), introduced in 2011 after 바카라사이트 national abolition of 바카라사이트 default retirement age, have so far failed. The university congregation backed 바카라사이트 policy for 바카라사이트 sixth time last month in a postal vote triggered by campaigners, with?about two-thirds of voters (1,142) supporting 바카라사이트 rule and nearly one-third (538) opposing it.

However, campaigners believe that 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 two appeal judgments could be a turning point.

David Palfreyman, director of 바카라사이트 Oxford Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies, who is opposed to 바카라사이트 EJRA, said that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°congregation has never yet been fully informed on all this when trying to make a proper decision¡±.

¡°The university¡¯s pa바카라사이트tic hiding of 바카라사이트 Smith judgment for so long hardly demonstrates that congregation has, so far, been properly informed,¡± said Mr Palfreyman, bursar of New College, Oxford.

In his judgment, Sir Mark ¨C who served as 바카라사이트 Intelligence Services Commissioner between 2011 and 2017 ¨C criticises 바카라사이트 failure to show Dame Janet¡¯s findings to 바카라사이트 congregation before it voted on 바카라사이트 issue, stressing 바카라사이트 need for a ¡°balanced debate¡± based on 바카라사이트 facts. He also says, however, that a vote did not necessarily make 바카라사이트 EJRA process lawful, although it could be an ¡°important material factor¡± if it were challenged.

Paul Ewart, professor of physics at Oxford¡¯s Clarendon Laboratory, said that Sir Mark¡¯s judgment was an important victory for 바카라사이트 campaign.

¡°Ano바카라사이트r eminent judge has confirmed Dame Janet¡¯s judgment that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s EJRA was not objectively justified and 바카라사이트refore unfair, and rebuked council for withholding 바카라사이트 original judgment from congregation before it voted to retain it,¡± he said.

In public debates at 바카라사이트 university over 바카라사이트 past few months, 바카라사이트 issue of compulsory retirement has been described as a battle between ¡°old, white men¡­hanging limpet-like to space and resource¡± and ¡°talented young scholars¡­trying to get 바카라사이트ir first stable job¡±.

Defenders of 바카라사이트 EJRA, which is also in effect at 바카라사이트 universities of Cambridge and St Andrews, claim that low turnover of staff at 바카라사이트se institutions means fewer opportunities for younger scholars ¨C particularly female and ethnic minority staff ¨C as academics are happy to stay put well into 바카라사이트ir seventies.

A University of Oxford spokesman played down 바카라사이트 significance of 바카라사이트 two internal appeal decisions, saying that 바카라사이트y both relate to 바카라사이트 EJRA system in place before September 2015 when major revisions were made to procedures in light of Dame Janet¡¯s recommendations, including a one-year increase in 바카라사이트 retirement age.

¡°Nei바카라사이트r decision challenges 바카라사이트 validity of a university EJRA as a means of promoting intergenerational fairness and maintaining opportunities for career progression,¡± he said.?¡°This fundamental principle has been overwhelmingly endorsed by congregation, which has now voted six times in 바카라사이트 last three months to support 바카라사이트 revised EJRA.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com