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AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE JULY 2019
Transcript of Ageism in the Workplace Final - d207ibygpg2z1x.cloudfront.net · The fastest growing segment of the...
AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE
JULY 2019
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
While ageism is widely discussed, there isn't a lot of data surrounding the topic. Recognized by the World Health Organization as a "prevalent and insidious problem," ageism can act as a dangerous employment discrimination tactic, even if it's unintentional.
The fastest growing segment of the American workforce is employees aged 65 and older, according to AARP, yet our survey results show that a majority of people experience ageism before the age of 45. Ageist remarks and comments, when internalized, have proven to have negative impacts on a person's mental and physical health so it's important to combat ageism at every level of a company.
In the summer of 2019, Fairygodboss surveyed 1,000 people over the age of 40 to understand the prevalence of ageism in the workplace, learn how it affects employees, and determine what employers can do to better combat ageism at work. We initially set out to see if there were any differences in the ways men and women experience ageism and while there were a few notable differences, there are far more similarities. We found that there are more distinctions between respondents who have and have not experienced ageism when it comes to their perceptions of ageism at work.
HAVE YOU OBSERVED A SITUATION THAT YOU PERCEIVED TO BE AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE?
HAVE NOT OBSERVED
AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE
56%
HAVE OBSERVED AGEISM IN THE
WORKPLACE
44%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Other A boss or manager making a negative comment
about someone related to age
A highly qualified job candidate was
not hired for reasons you believe are related to age
Someone was passedover for a promotion
for reasons yoususpect to berelated to age
Someone was laid off for
reasons you believe are
related to age
A co-worker making a negative
remark about another employee
related to age
I have not observed ageism in the workplace
HAVE YOU OBSERVED A SITUATION THAT YOU PERCEIVED TO BE AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
22%
13%15% 15% 16%
22%
56%
2%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Other A boss or manager making a negative comment
about someone related to age
A highly qualified job candidate was
not hired for reasons you believe are related to age
Someone was passedover for a promotion
for reasons yoususpect to berelated to age
Someone was laid off for
reasons you believe are
related to age
A co-worker making a negative
remark about another employee
related to age
I have not observed ageism in the workplace
Have not experienced ageismHave experienced ageism
HAVE YOU OBSERVED A SITUATION THAT YOU PERCEIVED TO BE AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
12%6% 6% 7%
10% 12%
74%
51%
38% 40% 42%
35%
51%
11%10%1%
HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED
AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE
72%
28%
HAVE YOU PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED WHAT YOU BELIEVE TO BE AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE?
HAVE EXPERIENCED AGEISM IN THE
WORKPLACE
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Other You have been laid off for reasons
you believe are related to your age
Your boss or another manager has made
a negative comment related to your age
You were overlooked for a promotion for reasons you believe
are related to your age
You were not hired for a job for reasons
you believe are related to your age
A co-worker has made a negative remark related
to your age
Have Experienced Ageism
IN WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE?
44%
44%
36%
43%
18%
27%
31%
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Younger than 45 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65+
HOW OLD WERE YOU THE FIRST TIME YOU EXPERIENCED AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE?
37%
21%
6%1%
12%
21%
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Younger than 45 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65+
Female Male
35%
21%
6%
HOW OLD WERE YOU THE FIRST TIME YOU EXPERIENCED AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE?
39%
21% 20%
12%
2% 1%
23%
12%
7%
WHAT LEVEL WERE YOU AT IN YOUR CAREER WHEN YOU FIRST EXPERIENCED AGEISM?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Entry Mid-level Senior/Director Executive
2%13%
62%
24%
2%
WHAT LEVEL WERE YOU AT IN YOUR CAREER WHEN YOU FIRST EXPERIENCED AGEISM?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Entry Mid-level Senior/Director Executive
3%
13%
64%
20%
1%
13%
61%
26%
Female Male
3%1%
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT OLDER EMPLOYEES DO YOU THINK ARE TRUE?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
Other Older employees usually don’t have as much energy or drive as younger workers
Older employees typically don’t have the same level of tech skills
as younger workers
Older workers tend to be stuck in their ways and less open
to new ideas
Teams with older and younger workers are more
productive than teams without age diversity
Older employees often elevate a team by
teaching and mentoring younger colleagues
None of the above
13%
67%
53%
20%20%
10%2%2%
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
Other Older employees usually don’t have as much energy or drive as younger workers
Older employees typically don’t have the same level of tech skills
as younger workers
Older workers tend to be stuck in their ways and less open
to new ideas
Teams with older and younger workers are more
productive than teams without age diversity
Older employees often elevate a team by
teaching and mentoring younger colleagues
None of the above
8%
73%
65%
19%25%
15%
5%
16%
65%
49%
20%19%
9%1%
Have not experienced ageismHave experienced ageism
1%
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT OLDER EMPLOYEES DO YOU THINK ARE TRUE?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
HAVE YOU PERSONALLY ENCOUNTERED NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES ABOUT OLDER WORKS?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY. “OLDER WORKERS…”
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
Other Are not as productive Do not have the drive or stamina
that youngerworkers do
Salaries are too high, compared to younger
colleagues doing equivalent work
Do not have the necessary tech knowledge or skills
Are not as willing or able to learn new skills or as
open to new ideas
None of the Above
53%
22%22%20%15%
10%1%1%
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
Other Are not as productive Do not have the drive or
stamina that youngerworkers do
Salaries are too high, compared to younger
colleagues doing equivalent work
Do not have the necessary tech
knowledge or skills
Are not as willing o able to learn new
skills or as open to new ideas
None of the Above
21%
42%42%40%36%
25%
6%
65%
17%16%13%
9%6%0%
Have not experienced ageismHave experienced ageism
0%
HAVE YOU PERSONALLY ENCOUNTERED NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES ABOUT OLDER WORKS?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY. “OLDER WORKERS…”
HAVE YOU EVER LIED ABOUT YOUR AGE TO GET OR KEEP A JOB, OR APPEAR YOUNGER AT WORK?
NO
96%
YES
4%
HAVE YOU EVER LIED ABOUT YOUR AGE TO GET OR KEEP A JOB, OR APPEAR YOUNGER AT WORK?
0.00
20.00
40.00
60.00
80.00
100.00
120.00
Yes No
89%
11%
98%
2%
Have not experienced ageismHave experienced ageism
2%
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
Other Elected to have plastic surgery
Altered dates on my resume, CV,
or LinkedIn profile
Got botox or another non-surgical, anti-aging treatment
Dressed in a style different from what I prefer
Colored my hair
None ofthe above
78%
18%
6%2%2%1%1% 2% 2%1% 1%
HAVE YOU TAKEN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO APPEAR YOUNGER THAN YOU ARE
FOR WORK PURPOSES? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
HAVE YOU TAKEN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO APPEAR YOUNGER THAN YOU ARE
FOR WORK PURPOSES? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
Other Elected tohave plastic
surgery
Altered dates on myresume, CV, or
LinkedIn profile
Got botox oranother non-surgical,anti-aging treatment
Dressed ina style differen
from what I prefer
Coloredmy hair
None ofthe above
83%
12%5%1%2%1%0%
75%
22%
6%2%2%1%1%
Female Male
1% 1%1% 1%2% 2%2%0% 5%
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
Other Elected tohave plastic
surgery
Altered dates on my resume, CV, or
LinkedIn profile
Got botox oranother non-surgical,anti-aging treatment
Dressed ina style differen
from what I prefer
Coloredmy hair
None ofthe above
55%
36%
18%
6%5%2%2%
85%
12%2%1%1%0%0%
Have not experienced ageismHave experienced ageism
1% 1%2%0% 2%0% 5% 2%
HAVE YOU TAKEN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO APPEAR YOUNGER THAN YOU ARE
FOR WORK PURPOSES? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00
Other The interviewer hasassumed your tech
skills are not current
You have beenasked when you
graduated from college
You have beenasked your age
The job you wereseeking paid lessthan your mostrecently salary
You have beentold you may be“overqualified"
None of the above
44%
32%28%
19%19%
8%1%1%
IN SEARCHING FOR A NEW JOB, HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY OF THE FOLLOWING?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00
Other The interviewer has assumed your tech
skills are not current
You have beenasked when you
graduated from college
You have beenasked your age
The job you wereseeking paid lessthan your mostrecently salary
You have beentold you may be"overqualified"
None of the above
41%
33%
28%
23%22%
8%1%
46%
31%28%
16%17%
7%1%
Female Male
1% 1%
IN SEARCHING FOR A NEW JOB, HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY OF THE FOLLOWING?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
Other The interviewer hasassumed your tech
skills are not current
You have beenasked when you
graduated from college
You have beenasked your age
The job you wereseeking paid lessthan your mostrecently salary
You have beentold you may be"overqualified"
None of the above
16%
58%
53%
33%37%
28%
1%
55%
25%21%
15%13%
2%1%
Have not experienced ageismHave experienced ageism
1%1% 2%
IN SEARCHING FOR A NEW JOB, HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY OF THE FOLLOWING?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
HAVE YOU TAKEN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS TO COUNTER AGEIST STEREOTYPES?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
Other Gone out drinkingwith younger colleagues
to appear more "fun"
Faked techknowledge you
don’t have
Faked knowledgeof cultural referencesto avoid seeming "old"
Gotten tech orother training on new
techniques in your field
None of the above
74%
19%
5%4%4%0%0% 4%4%
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
Other Faked techknowledge you don't
have
Faked knowledge ofcultural references
to avoid seeming "old"
Gone out drinking withyounger colleagues
to appear more "fun"
Gotten tech orother training on new
techniques in your field
None of the above
53%
31%
8%12%11%
2%
83%
14%
3%2%2%0%
Have not expereinced ageismHave experienced ageism
2% 2%2% 3%0%
HAVE YOU TAKEN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS TO COUNTER AGEIST STEREOTYPES?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
Other Implement unconsciousbias training forhiring managers
Host teambuilding exercises
Encourage mentorshipsbetween younger
and older employees
Offer additional learningopportunities to all
employees
Avoid discriminatoryinterview questions
None, employerscan't combat ageism
13%
57%57%55%
39%36%
1%1%
WHAT DO YOU THINK EMPLOYERS COULD DO TO HELP COMBAT AGEIST STEREOTYPES IN THE WORKPLACE?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
Other Implement unconsciousbias training forhiring managers
Host teambuilding exercises
Encourage mentorshipsbetween younger
and older employees
Offer additional learningopportunities to all
employees
Avoid discriminatoryinterview questions
None, employerscan't combat ageism
17%
49%47%52%
32%30%
1%
11%
62%62%57%
43%40%
1%
Female Male
1% 1%
WHAT DO YOU THINK EMPLOYERS COULD DO TO HELP COMBAT AGEIST STEREOTYPES IN THE WORKPLACE?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
Other Implement unconsciousbias training forhiring managers
Host teambuilding exercises
Avoid discriminatoryinterview questions
Encourage mentorshipsbetween younger and
older employees
Offer additionallearning opportunities
to all employees
None, employerscan't combat ageism
6%
60%62%
69%
48%53%
5%
16%
56%54%52%
38%
32%
0%
Have not experienced ageismHave experienced ageism
0%
WHAT DO YOU THINK EMPLOYERS COULD DO TO HELP COMBAT AGEIST STEREOTYPES IN THE WORKPLACE?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:
WHAT AGE RANGE DO YOU WANT TO RETIRE?
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00
Younger than 50 50-59 60-64 65+
45%
33%
17%
5%
DO YOU FEAR BEING ‘PUSHED OUT’ AT WORK BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE?
NO75%
YES25%
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
100.00
Yes No
46%
54%
86%
14%
Have not experienced ageism Have experienced ageism
DO YOU FEAR BEING ‘PUSHED OUT’ AT WORK BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE?
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
Younger than 50 50-59 60-64 65+ I do not think my age will make it difficult
to keep my job or get a new one
22%20%
25%
28%
6%
WHEN DO YOU THINK YOUR AGE COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP YOUR JOB OR GET A NEW ONE?
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
Younger than 50 50-59 60-64 65+ I do not think my age will make it difficult
to keep my job or get a new one
14%12%
21%
39%
14%
26%
22%25%
23%
4%
Has not experienced ageismHave experienced ageism
WHEN DO YOU THINK YOUR AGE COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP YOUR JOB OR GET A NEW ONE?
![Perceptions and Consequences of Ageism[1]](https://static.fdocuments.us/doc/165x107/55cf9782550346d033920454/perceptions-and-consequences-of-ageism1.jpg)
