AARP’s Post

Age discrimination is not just in the workplace, it's also in the recruiting process - from applications that require college graduation dates to hiring managers who tell you you're overqualified. The law needs to be updated!

Seasoned employees ARE the backbone of the economy due to their work ethic, experience, and dependability!!!!

Of it wasn't a thing, they wouldn't ask 5 different ways, your age

I’m 67. I’ll graduate from law school and (hopefully) pass the bar at 68. Is my age going to be a hindrance to being hired somewhere as an attorney? Possibly. But I don’t feel or act “old.” It’s all in your mind set. People “my age” need to stay active and current with technology. We bring a work ethic,discretion, responsibility, and plenty of experience to the table. And, what’s meant for you will not pass you by.

This is a joke right??? I am a solid example of an age discrimination case. I worked for Beacon building products for over 8 years and had grown my territory from 6 million to 9.5 million in four years. I had an exceptional year just before COVID when I took an existing roofing company and worked very hard to consolidate all their business with Beacon, thus adding an additional sales volume of 1.6 million per year to their already 500K in commercial roofing. Through hard work and negotiations I convinced them to give me all their roofing business, after 5 months of working with them it finally happened. This taking my territory sales from 5million to 6.5 million in one year. I was awarded a 2% pay raise with a 5k bonus. I felt like I had been slapped in the face. The following year I was given another 18% quota on top of that wonderful year I already had. I said that I thought it was excessive and that 12% would be more like it. I achieve12% at the end of the year, but not the 18th that they had required. Two months later I was layed off!!!

I keep hearing this, but I am still working at age 76 and I have never considered my age to be an obstacle. At the end of 2023 I retired from commuting. I spent the better part of 2024 getting educated and certified to do medical coding, because I wanted something I could do from home that aligned with my medical background (transcriptionist for 35 years). I was certified in November 2024, and in January I applied for an entry level position with the Judge Group. I was interviewed the next day. During that interview I was asked the date and month of my birth, and I also (mistakenly) volunteered the year. Immediately following the interview, I received a follow up interview from the Judge Group recruiter saying I had been preapproved. Before I got the final offer on March 5th, I had already turned my guest bedroom into an office and had an extra port installed so I could hardwire into the Ethernet. I am age 76, but I am not 76 years “old”. I had confidence!!! I did have an interview with another company, who asked for date of birth on my application. Is that even legal? When I wasn’t hired, I did wonder if it was because of my age. Later, I found out they pay very poorly and I had probably asked for way too much.

Yes. Although it is illegal to discriminate based on age, it happens every day. I have termed it as “Silent Discrimination” by employers & headhunters/recruiters alike.

Not a good plan. You get fired/let go anyway. Until companies value experience over money nothing will change.

I’m 42 and at my most recent job was laid off when other employees at the lab was in their 20s. I knew how to do more then them, no write ups even though some of them had 3 or more, lived 10 mins from work and the others lived much further, had been there 2 years and 3 others at the lab had been there less then a year so yes age discrimination is real no matter how hard you work or qualifications they will get rid of you if you have any health issues.