How to Prevent Age Discrimination

People are often overlooked for promotions or a job solely because of their age; merit is overlooked. Age discrimination can occur with young people as well as older workers. It also occurs even though individuals are protected by federal Equal Employment Opportunity laws. Employers can take steps to make sure that age discrimination does not occur in their place of business.

Things You'll Need

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Laws

Instructions

Preventing Age Discrimination

1. Design an employee handbook that outlines goals for employees seeking promotion. The company should always follow these procedures. For example, anyone wishing to be a manager should go through specific steps. If an employee goes through those steps and meets any other requirements, then they should be promoted if a job is available and they are the most qualified candidate.

2. Be sure that managers are familiar with the laws. Do not mention age in advertisements for job openings or in applications. Make sure your applications are free from these questions. It is illegal to ask a potential employee their age. When a person is being interviewed for a job, the person doing the interviewing should also be careful about the types of questions asked, so as not to indirectly ask about age.

3. 

   Increase company awareness of age discrimination. Make sure each employee has had training to guard against age discrimination. The training should include state and federal laws.

4. Inform employees that discrimination of any type will not be tolerated. Have set disciplinary measures for anyone who does not comply and apply them. Employees will be less likely to engage in such behavior if they are aware of penalties.

5. Encourage employees to file a complaint when they experience age discrimination. Managers and supervisors should know how to handle these complaints. The most important step in filing a complaint is that everyone involved can come to an agreement and talk through the problem. Age discrimination can be a misunderstanding. These steps can ensure the misunderstandings do not occur.

References

• Age Discrimination
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• HR Tools