Political Solutions Needed for Age Bias in the Workplace

It’s no secret: One of the best ways for older adults to stay financially secure is to keep earning money in the workplace.

And income is not the only reward that jobs may offer. Many people gain satisfaction from interacting with their colleagues, along with a sense of purpose that comes with using skills they have developed over many years. The contributions of experienced workers boost the entire U.S. economy.

Yet far too often, longtime employees run into a barrier that puts these benefits out of reach: age discrimination. At AARP, we recognize how harmful and pervasive age discrimination really is. Among workers age 40-plus, more than six in 10 – 64 percent – have witnessed or experienced age discrimination in the workplace, our research shows.

That is why AARP is fighting to ensure that all workers are treated fairly and assessed by their qualifications and experience, not their age. Experienced workers should have a level playing field in their ability to compete for, obtain, and remain in their jobs.

It’s just plain common sense, really. Yet rooting out prejudiced attitudes that harm older adults will require action on multiple fronts. Improvements in federal law stands out as one crucial area, and we urge lawmakers to step up and make fighting age discrimination the priority it should be in our aging society.

As a starting point, Congress should move forward with several important measures designed to ensure older adults who wish to remain – and thrive – in the workplace can do so for as long as they want or need to.

The Protecting Older Americans Act would ensure older workers have the same rights as many of their peers if they believe they have been victims of age discrimination. Currently, employers may require that workers agree to binding arbitration, a practice that prevents them from seeking redress in court. This bill has bipartisan support and is sponsored by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Dick Durbin (D-IL); and Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) in the House. 

The Stronger Workforce for America Act, sponsored by Reps. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Bobby Scott (D-VA), updates current law to support skills development for workers. Access to training can be extremely valuable to older employees who wish to stay competitive at a time when technology is reshaping many job duties and creating a need for new skills in the workplace.