It is only natural that people will have different strengths and weaknesses that can be applied accordingly to various employment positions. There is nothing wrong with employers utilizing people in various ways based on the skillsets they possess.
However, when an employer opts to treat workers differently based on a protected characteristic, such as gender, religion or race, this is discrimination. Importantly, age also factors into the list of protected characteristics. Approximately one in five employees across the U.S. are 55 or older. At the same time, as many as 64% report that they have faced ageism in the workplace.
So what are some of the more common signs of workplace discrimination relating to age?
You may have carried out your daily tasks to the highest standard for a number of years. One day, your boss might suddenly announce that they are being handed over to a younger member of staff. This could be an attempt to embarrass you and force you to move on. As long as you are performing your job in the same manner as always, there is really no reason to treat you this way.
While jokes can help to lift some of the tension on a busy day, their intentions may also be sinister. If you are facing derogatory remarks about your age on a regular basis, this could cross the line into discriminatory behavior.
Everyone makes mistakes at times, this is just an unavoidable fact of life. This also means that those around you will make equivalent errors on occasion. But do they face the same level of reprimands? If you are being criticized in a more rigid manner than younger colleagues, it could be a sign that you are being singled out because of your age.
Every worker deserves to be treated with dignity and respect as well as in accordance with the law. If you feel that you have been subjected to workplace discrimination, you should familiarize yourself with your legal rights in California.
