Many major industries in California, such as the technology industry, have always geared towards younger workers due to the misconceptions surrounding the technological skills of older workers. These misconceptions have been heightened amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for working remotely.
As millennials grew up with changing technology, they are perceived to have the technological skills that the baby boomer generation may not have. As such, Millennials may be more likely to be promoted over baby boomers. According to a report, the average age for employees in the tech industry is 38 compared to 43 in non-tech fields, with the average age of tech managers being 42 compared to 47 for non-tech managers.
Further research has shown that, while age discrimination in the workplace is illegal, it is still prevalent. Part of the problem is that, according to one study, approximately 66 percent of participants who were full-time workers did not receive age discrimination training within the last year.
However, there are ways that companies and employers can counter-act ageism in the workplace. This includes monitoring their hiring practices to determine if older workers are being underrepresented when it comes to hiring new workers and promoting workers. Some companies may also benefit from offering training that encourages inclusion.
Although workplace discrimination based on age is illegal in California, some companies may avoid hiring or promoting workers who are over a certain age. If a person believes he or she was not hired due to age or if he or she was overlooked for a promotion due to age, an attorney may assist with filing a lawsuit against the employer. In these types of cases, the attorney may investigate the hiring and promotion practices and trends of the company. While the attorney may attempt to work with the company to resolve the issue first, he or she may take the case to court if the employer refuses to resolve the issue.
