Here’s How To Fight Back Against Unfair Treatment
With retirement costing more than ever before, many Americans are choosing to stay in the workforce longer — and unfortunately, many of these older workers will face discrimination based on age. A new survey conducted by LiveCareer sheds light on the prevalence of age discrimination in the workplace. 84% of workers reported witnessing and/or first-hand experience of age discrimination in the workplace.
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Here’s a closer look at how age discrimination can manifest itself in the workplace and what older workers can do to defend themselves against unfair treatment.
Older workers believe that their age is an argument against them in the hiring process
According to the survey, 77% of workers aged 50 and over believe they were not hired because of their age. In addition, 86% believe that most job advertisements are aimed at younger people and 76% believe that it is easier for young people to find a job than for older people.
One way to counteract potential biases during the hiring process is to be strategic during the interview phase.
“[Older workers] should focus on their strengths first and foremost,” says Agata Szczepanek, career counselor at LiveCareer. “As sad as it is, a lack of confidence often ruins your chances of getting a job. Fear of failure coupled with age stigma can create stress and negatively impact overall candidate performance.”
In addition to focusing on strengths and exuding self-confidence, “it is crucial to show a willingness to learn, growth orientation and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances,” says Szczepanek. “All these [traits] are always in demand and highly valued by potential employers across all industries and at every career stage.”
It’s also important to make sure your resume is up to date, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve been job hunting. And Szczepanek recommends always looking for ways to add new skills to your resume.
“Get a new qualification, learn a language or take courses,” she says. “It’s a great way to stand out in a pool of candidates when looking for a job. The broader and more diverse your skillset, the better your chances of employment.”
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Almost three quarters of older workers believe they were made redundant because of their age
When asked if they thought they had been made redundant because of their age, a staggering 74% of workers aged 50+ said they had. If this ever happens to you, know that you have a legal right to fight back.
“Let your voice be heard,” Szczepanek said. “Suffering in silence gets nowhere and certainly won’t change anything. I know it can be tempting to put the traumatic experience at work behind you and never look back. Still, it doesn’t seem right. Speak for yourself and for others. Where there is crime there should be punishment.”
As Szczepanek states, age discrimination in the workplace is illegal.
“Take legal action to fight this,” she said. “Winning age discrimination cases in court may be difficult, but it is not impossible. Be sure to collect as much evidence as possible. Take notes and make copies of relevant materials (e.g. screenshots, emails, text messages). Remember you are not alone. Contact professionals to seek help – a lawyer, your local EEOC office or the company’s human resources department.
“If you feel that legal action is out of reach for any reason, you should at least ‘announce’ your former employer,” Szczepanek continued. “There are a variety of ways you can do this – through social media, reaching out to journalists and more. Remember that you may not be the only one getting fired because of your age. Your actions can encourage others to open up about their experiences. Together you are even more effective.”
Even if no direct action is taken against them, older workers often face prejudice
Being fired or not hired because of your age are serious manifestations of age discrimination in the workplace, but many older workers will face more implicit prejudice against them on a day-to-day basis. The survey found that 72% of all workers agree that older workers are a target of workplace bullying and 37% agree that younger people are better workers than older people.
In addition, there are many common negative perceptions about older workers: 67% believe they work slower than younger workers, 66% believe they learn slower than younger workers, 65% believe they are less motivated, 65% believe they less productive, 63% believe they are less creative, 62% believe they are less sociable, 69% believe they have poorer technical skills and 69% believe they are more resilient to change.
To stay relevant and valued in your workplace, Szczepanek offers the following advice: “Focus on your skills, knowledge, talents and valuable experience – not how old you are. Stay curious, be open and act boldly. learn new things. Youth can be a state of mind and – cliché but true – you are as young in the workplace and beyond as you feel.”
On the plus side, 78% of workers believe older workers are better leaders than younger people, and 78% believe they are smarter than younger people. To be successful in the workplace, lean on these positive stereotypes.
“You can inspire others to grow,” said Szczepanek. “Everyone has something to teach and something to learn.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Age discrimination in the workplace is rampant: how to stand up against unfair treatment