Bucks Blog: Older Workers Say Age Bias Is Common

About two-thirds of older workers say they have seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace, and most of them say it’s common, a new survey from AARP finds.

Of those who say they have seen or experienced age discrimination, many (58 percent) say they believe it begins in the 50s.

The survey also found, however, that a majority (75 percent) of employed older workers said their age had not caused their employer to treat them differently from other workers.

That may be because people don’t perceive different treatment in general, said Jean Setzfand, vice president of financial security for AARP. But when they consider specific circumstances in which their age may have been a factor in their careers, their perception changes.

For instance, about 19 percent said they had not gotten a job they applied for because of age; 12 percent said they were passed up for a promotion; and 9 percent said they were laid off or fired, or denied access to training opportunities, because of their age.

The AARP, a nonprofit group that advocates for people over 50, surveyed 1,502 adults age 45 to 74 by telephone in November and December 2012. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Other data supports workers’ perceptions about age discrimination, Ms. Setzfand said. The average duration of unemployment, for instance, is significantly longer for older workers. As of April, it was 50.2 weeks for workers 55 and older against 36.9 weeks for those under 55.

“That’s a hard data point showing something working against older workers,” she said.

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and its subsequent amendments, prohibit employment discrimination based on age for those age 40 and older. But a Supreme Court decision in 2009 made it more difficult to prove age discrimination.

More than a third of older workers said they weren’t confident that they could find another job quickly, without having to move or take a pay cut, the survey found.

So what strategy should you use to overcome possible age bias when job hunting?

For starters, “Don’t start with a preconceived notion that ‘I’m disadvantaged, just because I have more experience,’” she said.

Rather, focus on your skills and polish your presentation to potential employers “so you can present yourself with the best foot forward.”

Also, focus on sectors where opportunities are the ripest, she said. In fields where there is high turnover and a chronic skills gap — health care, for example — employers have a harder time finding candidates with the required skills, so recruiting is more robust. “Think about what you have to offer as a skill set and home in on that,” she said.

The AARP puts out a list each year of the employers that are especially friendly to older workers.

Do you feel that your age has counted against you in the workplace, or in your job search? How did you react? And do you have advice for others?

Article source: http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/08/older-workers-say-age-bias-is-common/?partner=rss&emc=rss