DIVERSITY
AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE
Ageism in the workplace is not only prejudice , it damages businesses through lack of diversity . Three experts share their insights and how to tackle ageism
WRITTEN BY : SCOTT BIRCH
With organisations at pains to showcase their DE & I credentials , there remains one area of discrimination that is only expected to get worse as recession hits – ageism .
The forgotten factor when it comes to workplace diversity , older workers can expect to be hit by a triple whammy as the economic climate toughens .
As companies look to trim salaries , it is often the typically higher paid , more experienced staff that are the first to be fired . Secondly , this same age group are also the last to be hired – with companies instead taking advantage of hungry graduates desperate to get a foot on the corporate ladder . And thirdly , with digital transformation accelerated by a decade during the pandemic , often older workers find themselves lacking the skills expected from prospective employers who have seen their own goalposts shift .
Companies that pursue this strategy are not only missing out on the diversity benefits of a multi-generational team , but also risk breaking the law ( Denmark is the latest country to adopt anti-ageism regulations when it comes to recruitment ).
We spoke to three ageism in the workplace experts to get their take on the challenges and also advice on how companies can benefit .
THE FORGOTTEN DE & I FACTOR
84 October 2022