AGE DISCRIMINATION GOES ONLINE -- AARP Bulletin/December 2017
Great article that I hope as many of you will have the opportunity to read. I just want to share one paragraph in this article which is relevant, because so many Jobcase posters have had this experience. The paragraph reads:
"The ADEA and other laws helped, but employers who prefer younger workers have found new tactics. For example, many online applications use drop-down menus that only go back to the1980's, effectively screening out anyone who graduated or had work experience before those dates. Some require birth dates, and if you try to skip the question, the application won't be accepted. And some job listings now state a preference for "digital natives" -- people who grew up using computers -- deterring those over 40."
Personally speaking, I find the statement "digital native" to be ridiculous. I started using computers (as many have), before some of these folks were born.
There is also discrimination when older, more experienced adults have a stronger work ethic than millennials.
I find the current status of age discrimination so ironic. I used to work in HR, 25 years; and they used to send us to stupid seminars about how to work with milenials because they are so different from baby boomers. Who knew us baby boomers would get kicked out on our butts, with tons of experience—yes and with plenty of computer and relevant experiences; and millennials would be scrounging around for a job paying 40k. Guess we really didn’t have to worry about millennials getting along with baby boomers!!
Some of the applications that have been used in the past will make also go back to the password and repeat whatever that is supposed to be said plus document the paperwork again...
The point here is that each one of us brings a wealth of not only career experience but also life experience that we should be sharing and companies should be taking advantage of. Instead we have stupid reasons and HR misnomers on why not to hire older workers. My favorite, we know you can do the job but we have to make sure you fit into our culture! Other excuses, oh he wants too much money even though you are applying to a job with a specific salary range, or old people don’t like change! Oh after raising a family and going through life? Or even though I spent years coming up the ranks, oh he worked as a manger so he won’t want to work, he will just want to delegate! Just stupid excuses that HR people gain from shrinks and MBA’s that run their math models to try and figure out human behavior!
In Gods eyes we are wonderful made
My experience as a 57 year old woman whom have spent most of my employment life in the care of others i enjoy doing mental health and working with people with disabilities I find it very rewarding I am good at my job and I still have much to contribute its sad where i see this heading some of this population needs the experience of older care givers we appreciate the needs of folks and have the patience and understandind much required for the issues of this population
I actually used 80 column cards. Fortran, Cobol, and key punch machines (like my mother did as an IBM systems analyst "cyber" was sci fi or comic book term
Thank you yes I realized that they should post picture with the online application.that way when they ask for the year you graduate from school or your year of DOB.they can see what you actually look like.thank you.
Spot on. Thanks for sharing, Cynthia.
With all of this knowledge where is the EEOC? Is this now legal?