EEOC 50th Anniversary of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act

Last week, the EEOC issued a study of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which impleme...



Posted by Sonia Chapin, SPHR, SHRM-SCP on July 2 2018
Sonia Chapin, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

ADEA 50th AnniversaryLast week, the EEOC issued a study of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which implemented in June 1968. The ADEA was among the latter pieces of legislation addressing civil rights for employees in the 1960s.

The EEOC finds the ADEA has eliminated overt age discrimination, however, it remains common—described as an “open secret”—across industries and geographic regions of the US. The report takes aim at false assumptions about older workers, particularly regarding the diversity, education, and work ethic of the older generation.

The report details that about 75% of surveyed workers believe age is an obstacle in getting a job, despite low unemployment and a relatively strong economy. In a demonstration of how under-reported this type of discrimination is, about 3% of those who believe they experienced age discrimination complained to their employer or a government agency.

The report includes recommendations to prevent age discrimination, such as including older workers in D&I programs and being cognizant of the age of members of hiring panels. As with most diversity efforts, organizations focused on fully utilizing the talents of all members of the workforce demonstrate performance and productivity while lowering turnover.

Sonia Chapin, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Sonia Chapin, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
As Managing Consultant for Berkshire, Sonia Chapin is responsible for the development and implementation of affirmative action planning.

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