Nobody wants to be treated differently because of their age. Unfortunately, it happens all the time in Rhode Island workplaces. As the oldest millennials begin to turn 40 in 2021, they might find themselves facing an issue that their own parents might have struggled with — age discrimination.
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act — ADEA — protects workers age 40 and over when it comes to age bias in the workplace. Of course, 40 is still thought of as relatively young, but the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — EEOC — reports that 37% of its 2017 age discrimination complaints came from people between the ages of 40 and 54. Age discrimination most frequently manifests as firing or refusing to hire someone because of age.
The industry in which someone works can also influence whether he or she is likely to experience age discrimination. For example, a 40-year-old working in business might be hitting a new pinnacle in his or her career, while someone in the same age in the tech industry could be sidelined because of age. Age discrimination also affects women differently, often as early as only 36 years of age.
Age discrimination can impact victims in a number of different ways. From stalled careers to lost earning potential, even a single act of discrimination is enough to alter the course of someone’s life. Seeking justice for such acts can be essential then, especially for those who hope to push for real change that might protect future workers in Rhode Island. This can often be accomplished by successfully navigating a workplace discrimination claim to completion.