Baby boomers are getting older, with many in Wisconsin already at retirement age or getting close to it. In recent years, many older workers, some still in their 50s, have started to experience age discrimination as their companies hire younger workers. What actions in the workplace constitute age discrimination?
Five signs that you may have experienced age discrimination
Even though age discrimination has been illegal under employment law for 50 years, career counseling experts recommend that you look out for the following five signs indicating your employer may be working against you:
- Older workers are fired or offered buyouts and replaced with younger people
- You are reassigned to undesirable duties
- Supervisors and coworkers comment about your age
- You no longer get pay increases
- Performance reviews begin to tank
Hiring younger workers doesn’t necessarily indicate age discrimination. Still, when you see the same type of younger person hired repeatedly, this practice is known as culture fit, a more delicate term for age discrimination. Job reassignment is one of the most apparent signs that your employer wants you to leave. Sometimes, this practice can occur with a lack of pay raises, but the latter can become tricky if you are at the top of the pay scale. If your performance reviews begin to tank for no reason, especially if you see other signs along with it, that is a clear red flag.
Age discrimination often begins subtly
You may not realize at first that you are a victim of age discrimination, but the practice is surprisingly commonplace in Wisconsin. The practice frequently begins with tacky comments about your age or habits you may have that your younger co-workers may not have. Supervisors may start to ask if you have any plans to retire soon. Although almost every workplace has employees who may make untoward comments, if you see a pattern of age-related comments that occur weekly or daily, you’re most likely experiencing age discrimination.
Employment discrimination of any type is illegal under state and federal laws. If you document incidents, you may have a case against your employer. Reach out to the attorneys at Alan C. Olson & Associates to talk about your situation.
