Is it me or ageism?

If you are a worker over 40 years old who has been praised highly and now seems not to get anything right, you may be experiencing bias against older workers.  Many organizations practice toxic workplace tactics to rid the payroll of long-term employees at the higher end of their salary grade.  But how do you know if these tactics are being used on you?

Ageism can be challenging to prove, and it can be subtle. However, it's essential to recognize it and take steps to combat it in the workplace. Ageism in the workplace is a form of discrimination that can take many different forms.

One of the tactics below is not enough to make the case, but if you are experiencing four or more, you most likely are a target of discrimination.  Here are seven ways to identify ageism in the workplace:

1.       You have heard negative comments about age, ability, or stamina targeted at you subtly or overtly. For example, a senior leader could state that people in the same position for 20 years have too many bad habits to train, or I need someone with a longer runway for this new role.   

2.       Your company has recently had layoffs or restructuring affecting older workers disproportionately over younger workers. 

3.       You’ve been moved to a new unit or supervisor without clear reasoning.

4.       Raises and promotions are going to younger workers even if the individual performance of an older worker is exemplary.  

5.       You are excluded from meetings where your advice was previously sought. 

6.       You are being overlooked for training opportunities or industry conferences.

7.       A senior leader is gaslighting you.  They may try to convince you that you are the problem and must change your behavior. This gaslighter may deny past events, such as denying that they received a report you delivered, or downplay your emotions, such as telling you that you are overreacting or being too sensitive.

Don’t assume your workplace is free of age discrimination. Older worker stereotypes have developed over our lifetime. Learn to recognize your thought patterns and challenge yourself to recognize patterns of behavior that lend themselves to discrimination.  You have protection. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) forbids age discrimination against people aged 40 or older. The ADEA prohibits employment discrimination against persons 40 years of age or older, and it protects workers from age discrimination in every phase of the employment relationship, including job advertisements, interviewing, hiring, compensation, promotion, discipline, job evaluations, demotion, training, job assignments, and termination.

What other tactics have you seen? Leave questions in the comments section, and I will follow up with advice.