- Age discrimination is a real problem in the United States according to Kerry Hannon, writer for "Forbes" magazine. Although discrimination based on age is illegal, it's a fact that age figures into hiring and work-related issues for many employers. Hannon says that almost a quarter of all complaints to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission are age-related. What's more, unemployment for workers 55 and over was 7.3 percent in August 2010 -- more than double the figure reported in November 2007.
- Although discrimination against older workers is getting attention, an article from "USA Today" reminds readers not to forget that discrimination affects the younger set as well. One young twenty-something lawyer described being humiliated in front of his peers when the judge jokingly asked him if it was take-your-kids-to-work-day. According to an article from "The Economist," young people struggling with recession layoffs also face the discriminatory assumption that entry-level employees fear hard work. A 2008 poll by PricewaterhouseCoopers reports the opposite, saying that recent graduates want much the same things as older workers, including long employment stints with relatively few employers -- and they're willing to work long hours if they're treated with respect.
- According to the AARP, every state has laws that make age discrimination illegal, and most even apply to small organizations with fewer than 20 employees. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act, a federal piece of legislation, provides extra protection to workers over 40. Under this law, employers, the federal government and employment agencies cannot discriminate against job applicants and employees over 40 who work for organizations with at least 20 employees. Discriminatory practices based on age aren't just wrong, they're illegal.
- If you feel you're being bullied at work based on your age, look for signs and document them. "Forbes" notes that if your boss frequently yells at you in front of others or ridicules your ideas, that could qualify as bullying. So can more subtle forms of harassment, such as when coworkers purposely leave you out of important meetings. Give your employer a chance to correct the situation by speaking with your boss or human resources, documentation in tow. If you're not happy with the outcome, you may want to consider speaking with an employment lawyer.
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