According to the AARP reports, two out of three older adults are mistreated and discriminated against in the workplace. Even though aging is a natural process and is bound to happen with everybody, ageism still exists. We see common forms of age discrimination include derogatory remarks, stereotypes, and favoritism of younger employees.
Age discrimination is offensive and illegal. You should not have to face a different kind of treatment just because you are older than most of your co-workers. You have the right to be treated equally to other employees. If you feel that your right has been violated, it is time you consult an Austin employee discrimination lawyer to look into the situation.
Signs you are a victim of workplace age discrimination
- You experience harassment.
If an employer has been making jokes about your age, laughing at you, or calling you offensive names, it is not normal. Many people do not take this seriously or simply choose to ignore it. However, these actions constitute harassment and should be stopped. Employers often engage in such activities to make you quit, as it is harmful to their company’s image to fire you without valid grounds.
- You notice older workers being replaced by younger ones.
Sometimes older workers quit their job on their own or consider an early retirement due to their deteriorating health. However, if your company constantly replaces older people with younger employees, even though the older employees are still capable of working, it might be a sign of discrimination.
Employers who are aware of the anti-discrimination laws may opt for a different approach. They may fire older employees by saying that they are laying people off and then hire new people for similar positions. Many Austin employers use this tactic to protect themselves from lawsuits.
- You stop getting raises.
Employers are not obligated to give you raises, especially if you perform poorly at your job. However, there are certain signs of discrimination you must look out for. For example, if your co-worker, who has similar performance reviews, gets a raise and you do not, it is a major red flag.
- You see your employer hiring only younger employees.
Discriminating employers have various misconceptions while recruiting new people. They may only hire younger workers due to the belief that they have the ability to perform better at their job and have more knowledge and social skills. It is unlawful for an employer to reject the application of an experienced older adult and accept a lesser experienced one.
Age discrimination can take many minor and major forms. It could start with a simple joke targeted at your age and end with you being fired. Therefore, you must start thinking before it is too late.