Age discrimination remains a persistent issue in today’s workforce, particularly in California’s tech industry. Age discrimination affects around 60% of workers aged 50 and up, despite their valuable skills and experience.
Even subtle age bias can damage a worker’s career and emotional well-being. Learning to spot discriminatory or unfair practices will help you protect your rights and fight back.
Biased job listings
One red flag from the start is coded language in tech job postings that discourage older applicants. You might spot terms like “digital native” and “young energy” that show a preference for younger workers. Hiring managers might even reject your application during interviews by claiming these as job requirements.
Lack of training opportunities
Your employer might deny you access to professional development and new technology training because of your age. This unfair practice can leave you behind on emerging skills and feed harmful stereotypes about older workers’ ability to adapt to fast-changing technology.
Unfavorable project assignments
Your company might push you toward less challenging or less desirable projects, claiming your experience is necessary there. Meanwhile, they give more exciting assignments to younger employees. This type of discrimination can stall your personal growth and block your career path.
Unfair promotion patterns
Bad project assignments often lead to fewer promotions. Many managers might judge you based on your recent assignments. As a result, the younger employees who could showcase their skills in more high-profile projects are more likely to move up.
Ageist remarks and hostile environments
Veiled “jokes,” comments and remarks are a common yet subtle form of age discrimination. Your managers or coworkers may:
- Question your tech skills
- Assume you’re not willing to learn new things
- Make snide comments about your retirement or health
These behaviors and more can create a toxic work environment, which can affect your job satisfaction and overall performance.
Your legal rights and protections
California provides robust protection against age discrimination through the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). You can fight back, but you need to take the first step.
Document every discriminatory incident you experience, including dates, times and witnesses. A skilled employment law attorney can explain what you need to build a solid case to challenge workplace age discrimination successfully.
