Orange County California Age Discrimination Lawyer

Seniors Losing Out on Seniority

A seasoned professional is passed on the promotion block by a young rookie. Does this sound familiar? For many older Americans, it describes their experience with workplace discrimination. The number of age-based complaints filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission rose 41% from 1999 to 2002. The Baby Boom generation was most greatly affected, comprising 64% of the 19,921 complaints filed in 2001.

It is no wonder that, with an unstable economy, companies are squeezing their budgets and, in doing so, cutting down many higher paying jobs. These positions are often filled by older-aged employees. Some employers perceive older workers as less productive than their younger counterparts, unwilling to learn new skills, and too expensive to keep on the payroll.

Signs of Age Bias

As an older member of the work force, there are warning signs you can look for to detect workplace age bias. Pay attention to who is being hired over others and why. Also, take note of who is being let go if the business is facing financial issues. Companies who are loyal to their employees should not fire their long time workers. Other things to consider:

• Did you receive a poor job evaluation after not being allowed to take training courses?
• Were you turned down for a promotion in favor of a younger person from outside the company?
• Was a less-qualified person hired over you because the employer wanted a younger-looking employee?

If you feel that you have been a victim of workplace age discrimination, contact Orange County age discrimination lawyer Perry Smith at 888-356-2529 to discuss your case and legal options.