Recent research shows that even the most outspoken critics of racism and sexism still are prone to prejudice against older workers, according to AARP.
The younger people are, the more likely they are to hold ageist views of workers, according to a study by Ashley E. Martin, Ph.D., assistant professor of organizational behavior at Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and Michael S. North, Ph.D., assistant professor of management and organizations at New York University.
“Although facing their own forms of discrimination, older individuals are perceived as blocking younger people, and other unrepresented groups, from opportunities — that in turn, motivates egalitarian advocates to actively discriminate against older adults,” Martin and North wrote.
An independent survey by AARP showed similar results. According to an article written by Rebecca Perron, older workers definitely perceive discrimination in the workplace.
“In fact, current data shows that 78% of older workers say they have seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace, the highest level since AARP began tracking this question in 2003. It comes as no surprise, then, that 96% of older workers agree that laws to combat age discrimination should be stronger,” Perron wrote.
