Age discrimination and its effect on the over 30s in todays workplace - Research Paper Example

Supervisor: Age discrimination and its effect on the over 30’s in today’s workplace Today in the work place, there is a type of discrimination that is worse and close to racial discrimination; that is, age discrimination. This is predominantly due to the fact that humans have unfair and old-fashioned ways or criteria of judging fellow humans. This criterion is contrary to the standard of equal judgment based on character and not age. This is true reflection of Anderson’s saying, “If you begin to use your sociological imagination, you will begin to see signs of social inequality in many places” (Andersen 178). Age discrimination is more or less often closely associated with ageism, but in relation to the market place or workplace, it can be described as the practice of denying an applicant employment or excluding an employee from promotion due to their age (Macnicol 2). Age discrimination is all about taking the focus from job competency as reflected in the skill levels and placing it on the individual’s calendar age. Most people tend to view age discrimination as an aspect that relates to older employees but the fact is that ageism involves young employees too. This is for the reason that there are age restrictions that are illegal and their sole intention is to bar young people with proper educational credentials simply because the employer thinks that the credentials will hinder them from performing their duties as expected (Macnicol 3). Pension reforms were ushered in with the advent of industrialization. Social security in form of specified pension amounts lured older employees into retirement as the schemes had financial benefits. However, after the Second World War, the professional arena experienced a change that saw the entry of the younger generation and modern technology into the workplace (Sargeant 27). “Discrimination exists in the minds of those that believe they have the right to exercise abusive authority and control over the powerless, the poor and the oppressed” (Hullet 28). This was the genesis of age discrimination as employers started viewing the ‘old’ employees as a professional burden that lacked the required technical know-how, conservative in their style of work, and above all lacked the zeal to work (Macnicol, 14). Nonetheless, there were those employers who stuck with the ‘old guard’ as they felt that the young were immature and inexperienced to enhance their productivity. Another fact that led to the cropping up of age discrimination was the low output achieved by older employees as they were incapable of keeping abreast with the new technology. Even so, their pay was high and they could not be fired because they had a lifetime employment policy. This made employer to review their policies in favor of the young thereby creating age discrimination. Generally, it can be said that age discrimination affects all age groups. Companies, on the other hand, view hiring young people as expensive as they will require further training and close supervision. They also have reservation on hiring old people because they tend to think that they will not get value for their money as older people will work for a short time before retiring and they are expected to pay out their retirement benefit. Age discrimination on a global scale and the USA Age discrimination is a worldwide phenomenon that affects every society in the world. However, this review will look at the European Union and the United States. “There is ample evidence that discrimination takes place in the EU” (Macnicol 45). Every standpoint has its own definition of old age, for example, in the statistical aspect old age is considered 60 to 65 years of age as pertaining to retirement or social program entry eligibility (Grobe 12). The European commission ranges old from 55 to 65 years of age. However, a 40 year old is defined as an old worker in the United States of America. Even though the current economic crises mostly affected the young people in Germany, there was also a substantial reduction to the number of older people hired. This can be attributed to the fact that once an older employee is out of work, his or her situation becomes a case of pre-retirement. They will ever hardly return as they are strict legislations protecting their employment (Morgan 53). In both the European Union and the USA, older workers are discriminated against for economic reasons. They are considered a competitive disadvantage as they are seen to be inflexible in terms of adapting to a fast changing environment either social, economically and even technologically. This has led to the older workers being concentrated in the shrinking older industries like extractive, manufacturing and heavy industries where they are affected by rationalization. In addition, older workers are discriminated against when it comes to the area of training as employers often are reluctant to retrain them once their skills become obsolete. Employers feel that they are not likely to recoup the money invested in them as they will retire sooner than later (Grobe 15). Another form of discrimination facing workers world over is statistical discrimination whereby companies assume instead of doing a real analysis (Grobe 17). Employers often use age to suggest the productivity of an applicant when they have not even done an actual analysis based what the applicant has done. While older workers are given the credit of being reliable in that their rate of absenteeism and turnover is low, they are also perceived to be a raising health cost, resistant to change , and inadaptable to new environment. Finally, when compared to the younger workers, the old are said to be of low learning capability therefore uninterested in new opportunities. Simply put, these negative stereotypes put forth by employers represent the affected age groups wrongful as they do not represent the real diversity of an individual. According to Hulett, America’s age discrimination can be likened to an epidemic that affects the entire society. Employers have restrictions that affect both the young and the old all in a bid to suit their best interest. Even though experience and wisdom are always associated with age, they should not be used by greedy businessmen who are out to use the gifted and ignorant in a bid to accomplish their ends while using age as a cover up (Hullet 43). Age discrimination results in unemployment or underemployment. If this is unchecked, we will have it toll in the America’s largest population; the middle age, and the result will be a deeper recession as the economy shrinks. In order to stop this, the government must ensure that there is basic employment opportunity an established by law. In addition, all loop holes used by employers to work around discrimination should be sealed (Andersen 186). Workers’ rights in terms of older age employees In today’s world, a work place should be an inclusive place where all employees regardless of their age or any other factor enjoy an equal opportunity as a basic and fundamental right. According to the International labor organization report of 2007 on equality at work, there should be an effective follow-up mechanism when it comes to matters relating to commitments, touch on agreements, and laws dealing with equality and non-discrimination issues (ILO 55). With age becoming the major factor in determining occupational attainment as well as the return to work determinant world over, there is need to come up with public policies that handle the issue in an objective and sober manner as it cuts across the spectrum at both ends: the young and old [ILO 56]. These policies should be devoid of favoring one group as opposed to the other because of deep-seated stereotypes. Furthermore, in an effort to create an all age workplace environment with equal opportunity, laws as those that have eliminated blatant ageism in the New Zealand should be put into place. In conclusion, it can be said that age discrimination is a real problem that has been present for long. It has continued to affect the society touching on everyone in the workplace whether old or young. Moreover, age discrimination is a global phenomenon that has negative effects on the economy as it has been used to satisfy the greed of businessmen in a bid to cut cost and make more money but the effects on the economy can be disastrous. Therefore, laws should be enacted to ensure an all age work place that offers an equal opportunity to employment for everyone. Works cited Andersen, Margaret L., and Taylor, Howard F. Sociology: The Essentials. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, 2007pp [178-312] Grobe, Viola K. Age Discrimination in Employment: A Comparative Study: The European Union, Germany and the United States of America. Available online from (Date Accessed 18th April 2013) 2010.pp 1-98 Hulett, John K. Age Discrimination: An Epidemic in America Affecting People of All Ages. Bloomington, IN: Author House, 2011.pp 1-60 International Labor Organization.Equality at Work: Tackling the Challenges: Global Report under the Follow-Up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Geneva: ILO, 2007 pp 55-60 Macnicol, John. Age Discrimination: An Historical and Contemporary Analysis. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2005.pp 1-48 Morgan, Leslie A. and Kunkel, Suzanne R. Aging, Society and the Life Course. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, 2011 pp [53-89] Sargeant, Malcolm. Age Discrimination: Ageism in Employment and Service Provision. Hampshire, GU: Gower Publishing Ltd., 2011. pp 20-48 Sargeant, Malcolm. Age Discrimination in Employment (Ebk-Epub). Hampshire, GU: Gower Publishing Limited, 2006.pp [23-45] Read More