Age Discrimination at Work Alive and Well

Age discrimination at work | BCBusiness
Most Canadians believe employers have a wealth of negative preconceived notions about older job applicants.

A majority of Canadians believe employers discriminate against older workers at a time when B.C. faces a looming labour shortage.

Betty White’s career comeback notwithstanding, it appears ageism is alive and well in the workplace. Results of a recent Ipsos-Reid survey indicate 74 per cent of Canadians believe employers are discriminating against older job applicants.
 
Why? Well, part of it seems to be an issue with comfort level. The survey indicates those doing the hiring tend to favour giving the vacant job to people in their own age bracket. In a small office environment especially, it’s not wholly surprising: employers may well want to surround themselves with staff that are as comfortable with the same technology, who “get” the same pop-culture references during coffee break talk or who are going through the same life transitions.
 
But there’s another perspective emerging from the same poll. Almost everyone surveyed, 93 per cent, agreed that older workers bring insight and experience to the workforce. That’s good news for employees and older workers alike, as B.C. begins to brace for a looming skills and labour shortage.
 
In 2007, the last time employers in this province were scrambling to fill jobs, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business asked small business owners for their viewpoint on older workers.
 
At the time, half said they had at least one employee on the payroll over the age of 60. They praised the experience and qualifications of those older workers, and included strong work ethics, loyalty, mentorship to younger employees, willingness to work flexible hours and problem solving skills among the positive aspects of hiring and retaining staff with more workplace mileage.
 
Of course, there are also factors to hiring older workers that, at best, may require certain accommodations on the shop floor, and at worst, may make hiring an older worker very difficult. One of those factors may involve the physical demands of the job. Others might include the impact on health premiums an employer must pay.
 
Still, there is more than enough market demand and economic motivation to put employers and older workers together. Over the next two decades, B.C.’s resource sector and heavy industry are expected to hoover up employees working for other bosses right now.
 
Meantime, bankruptcy trustees Sands and Associates recently revealed more British Columbians are heading into their so-called golden years carrying heavier debt burdens. The firm says between 2009-2011, it has experienced a 217 per cent increase in the number of bankruptcy or consumer proposals it’s worked on for debtors aged 65 and older These are findings that may well provide substantial motivation to head back to work.
 
When I think of the workplace benefits that arise from older workers contributing to a business, I can’t help but think of my own darling mummy. She’s worked in retail my entire life. She’s a people person, and loves the job. These days, the young men and women at work call her “mama”. She enjoys the affection. They enjoy the training, advice, encouragement and cheerleading she provides.
 
But lately, she’s been thinking more and more about retirement. It’s something she recently shared with a colleague. That co-worker came back the next day to tell my mother the very thought losing her had caused a sleepless night and more than a few tears.
 
At a time when we increasingly find ourselves spending more time at work than at home, such workplace bonds are to be treasured. And when it comes to forming those bonds, age shouldn’t be anything more than a number.