An employment tribunal has ruled that older employees disturbed by younger colleagues’ behavior in the workplace do not qualify as victims of age-related harassment. This ruling addressed the case of Catherine Ritchie, a 66-year-old administrator at an electrical engineeringcompany, who filed grievances against her younger colleagues for what she described as noisy and distracting behavior, which she believed hindered productivity.
Ritchie reported that her younger co-workers, aged in their 20s and 30s, often engaged in chatting, socializing, and using their phones during work hours. She expressed frustration over what she perceived as “extreme time wasting” and low productivity, leading her to experience a pounding headache and a strained voice from raising her volume to communicate.
During the tribunal, held in Watford, Hertfordshire, Ritchie highlighted that the office atmosphere was excessively noisy, making it challenging for her to complete tasks, particularly when making phone calls. She characterized her colleagues’ personal conversations as unprofessional and expressed that they were not fulfilling their work obligations.
Despite requesting a quieter working environment and the possibility of working from home, her management denied her request. One manager suggested that Ritchie focus on her performance targets rather than the conduct of her peers.
Ultimately, the tribunal concluded that Ritchie’s experiences did not meet the threshold for harassment. They acknowledged her desire to maintain professionalism but deemed her expectations of her colleagues’ behavior as unreasonable. The tribunal’s summary stated that her perception of the situation as harassment lacked justification, leading her to experience unwarranted indignation regarding the actions of her younger coworkers.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/aug/19/young-chatty-workers-disturbing-older-ones-not-age-harassment-tribunal-rules