Dear Eric: I am a 50-year-old technology worker. My boss is in her early 40s. She has made comments about coworkers in their 60s who she says “should retire.”
Needless to say I’m not too far behind those folks in age. I get Botox, filler, color my hair, diet and exercise and keep up on all the latest technology. However, like everyone who isn’t a vampire, I’m aging. I’ve had some health issues, and I need to keep working to pay for my health insurance and medications. The earliest I could receive Social Security is still 12 years away.
Widespread ageism is common in the tech industry. Is there a gentle way to remind people that age is not a topic that should come up in the workplace unless it is specifically related to succession or retirement planning? Or do I just let it go?
Eric says: You don’t have to let it go. What you’re experiencing isn’t fair and may cross a legal line. I reached out to human resources expert Hannah Marks at Culture Marks for guidance.
“As a first step for any employees experiencing ageism in the workplace,” she said, “it is key to maintain documentation of any/all instances. From there, it’s always a good idea to flag the situation to your HR team. Bringing this up to a manager or senior leader is another good option. In more severe cases, or when HR/senior leadership has failed to appropriately address the situation, employees have the right to seek legal counsel.”
You do have resources, even if the culture of your workplace suggests otherwise. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act specifically forbids age discrimination against people who are 40 or older.
If you want to learn more about the law and your options for reporting, I’d encourage you to visit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s website.
Love or a scam?
Dear Eric: I have a cousin who recently told me that he is “in love” with a woman in a foreign country and plans to get married. He would have to fly to her country to get married, leaving behind his son, grandson and mother, who is in a nursing home.
