What is Ageism?
Ageism is bias or discrimination against individuals based solely on their age. It often affects older workers—through exclusion from training or promotions—but can also target younger employees with assumptions about experience. Ageism undermines morale, stifles innovation, and risks legal penalties under ADEA or state laws.
Why Ageism Matters
33.6% of workers over 50 report unfair treatment, and organizations with age bias see 72% of senior staff considering leaving. Age-diverse teams, by contrast, outperform peers by 19% in innovation and revenue, leveraging varied perspectives across generations.
Where Ageism Is Used
Ageism surfaces in recruitment language—‘digital native’ preferences—training programs excluding legacy staff, and stretch assignments biased toward younger hires. Recognizing these cues is critical to fostering intergenerational collaboration and retaining veteran expertise.
Ageism Key Impacts
- Knowledge Loss: Veteran employees take critical expertise with them.
- Turnover Costs: Replacing experienced workers is up to 213% of annual salary.
- Innovation Gaps: Lack of diverse viewpoints hampers problem-solving.
- Legal Exposure: ADEA violations lead to EEOC claims and fines.
Ageism Best Practices & Examples
- Blind Screening: Remove birthdates from resumes to reduce bias.
- Mentorship Programs: Pair junior and senior staff for knowledge transfer.
- Language Audits: Eliminate age-coded terms like ‘recent grads’.
- Data Monitoring: Track age-disaggregated metrics on hiring and turnover.
Ageism Conclusion
Addressing Ageism builds a multigenerational culture that retains expertise and drives innovation. Through data-driven policy audits, inclusive training, and mentoring, organizations can ensure fair opportunities and harness the full spectrum of workforce talent.
Ageism FAQs
Which law protects older workers?
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits age-based discrimination against workers 40 and older in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation, or terms of employment.
Can reverse ageism occur?
Yes—reverse ageism arises when younger workers face bias, such as exclusion from leadership roles or professional development opportunities.
What is an example of ageism?
A job posting requiring ‘digital nativity’ may unfairly exclude older applicants regardless of their actual skills, constituting ageism under employment law.
