Older workers are valuable and capable employees, yet their employers and others do not always view them as such. If you are one of the older employees in the place where you work, you may find that you are a victim of discrimination on the basis of your age. Age discrimination is a problem that could eventually affect your mental health, ability to do your job and other aspects of your life. It will be helpful to know if you are a victim of this type of mistreatment.
It is not always easy to identify if you are a victim of age discrimination. It may benefit you to understand what actions count as discriminatory and what you can do if you are a victim. There are steps you can take that will allow you to seek justice, work to hold your employer accountable and fight for a workplace that is safe for employees of all ages.
The challenges of being an older worker
As an older worker, you may find that some discredit you due to your age. Workplace discrimination on the basis of one’s age is illegal, and there are both state and federal protections available to you. It is not always easy to identify actions that could be age discrimination, but the following are common ways it can occur in your place of work:
- You don’t receive advancement opportunities for which you are well-qualified.
- You lost your job or your employer offered you a buyout to retire early, only for your employer to replace you with a younger worker.
- You received new work assignments that are beneath your capabilities or are unpleasant.
- You lost some of the benefits you used to receive, or you have not received raises.
- Even though you are a hard worker and your output is consistent, your performance reviews have suffered.
If you suspect that you are a victim of age discrimination, there are legal options available to you. You may have grounds to pursue legal action against your California employer, but you may first benefit from an explanation of the discrimination claims process. An assessment of your potential case by an experienced professional can provide you with an understanding of what you can expect and how you can fight back against age discrimination in your workplace.