Age discrimination is not a new thing in Nashville; it has always been there; it’s only that now people are more vocal about it and know their rights regarding employment. People of all ages can experience age discrimination at work, whether old or young. But what is age discrimination, what are its forms, and what should you do if you have experienced it? Let’s find out.
What is age discrimination?
Age discrimination is defined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as when an applicant or employee receives less favorable treatment due to age. While age discrimination can happen to younger and older workers, in most cases, only older people tend to experience it more, and that’s why the Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects people over the age of 40 on the national level. If you have experienced age discrimination at work, you can hire an age discriminatory lawyer from Employment and Consumer Law Group. Click here to read more about Employment and Consumer Law Group
What age discrimination looks like?
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Your employer makes comments about your age.
It is harassment if your employer makes fun of your age by calling you by a nickname, making assumptions about your lack of knowledge of modern technology, or purposely keeping you out of discussions about pop culture or current events. They may also be attempting to force you to resign because they cannot legally fire you.
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Your promotion goes to someone else.
Even though you are the most qualified candidate for the position, another person who hasn’t attended school in a year might have managed to land the new position. Prejudice of this kind is easier to identify, particularly if the victim is much younger than you and you have worked for the company for a long period.
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You have been unfairly punished.
Your boss has recently put you on an improvement plan or is giving you harsher criticism than they give a younger employee, even though you have always been a great employee. These warning signs indicate their desire to find a reason to fire you or have you leave. Employers would need evidence that you weren’t fulfilling work requirements for this to work.
What to do if you’re a victim of age discrimination
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Document everything
Age discrimination is a serious issue that can be difficult to prove due to employers’ protective measures. To combat this, it is crucial to document incidents, such as hurtful comments or promotions, in various forms, such as emails, voicemails, and company communications. This can include wrongful discipline, hiring, firing, promotions, and exclusion from company events. Documenting these incidents in detail, including the perpetrator’s name, date, time, and type of harassment, can help identify and address age discrimination in the workplace.
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Speak with your employer
After documenting the incidents, discuss your concerns with your boss or employer. You can also send a report to your HR department to make it official. This way, you will have a record proving that you have encountered age discrimination.
Your company will have to take action and look into the matter once you submit a written report to see whether or not your allegation is credible. Be sure there is true job discrimination occurring before filing a report, though. Even if your employer makes hurtful remarks, they are not breaking the law unless discriminatory. The procedures listed in your organization’s employee handbook must also be followed.
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Take legal action
You should consider legal action if the problem continues or worsens or if your employer won’t stop the discrimination. You can get in touch with a qualified and experienced employment lawyer, or you can report age discrimination to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
