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Ageism In The Workplace

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In our society, ageism refers to stereotypes that discriminate against individuals or groups on the basis of their age. A tendency to think of elders as weak, unworthy of attention or unsuitable for attention is another way of looking at ageism. It is one of the most controversial topics of today, but it is not usually taken seriously. The term “ageism” was created by Robert Neil Butler in 1969 because he recognized the discrimination against elderly people. Butler, who was an author, physician, psychiatrist, and gerontologist, was known as the founder of the International Longevity Center (ILC) and National Institute on Aging (NIA). Since Butler wanted to bring societal awareness to the stereotypes against the older generation, he spent most …show more content…

It limits and denies people opportunities based on how old they are. Employers might say someone is too young or old for a certain position and base their decision on that no matter if the person is still capable of filling the position. Some states are trying to pass laws to stop age discrimination. According to the Department of Fair employment and Housing, California law prohibits discrimination in employment such as race, religion, sex, physical handicap, martial, status, and age. Businesses usually find ways around these laws though. Employers use minimum wage to take advantage of younger workers. They might give someone who is older more money even though they are completing the same tasks. Employers know that younger workers need “experience” and a lot of times don’t need a lot of money to support themselves seeing as they still live at home with their guardians. Sometimes employers pay older workers more to push them towards early retirement, or laying the workers off using that as an excuse. Employers don’t like hiring or keeping elderly people in their field because they think older people might be unable to fulfill certain task, but a lot of older people in this day and age are in really good health. An example of someone going through this and fighting back is Kevin Brady, who worked at Disney as a director of a studio. He sued Disney because he said they, “Unfairly fired him because of his age… saying that they were eliminating his position, where he later found out they hired an individual in her late 20’s or

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According to an article on Law.com, The Lockheed Martin Corporation was ordered “To pay $51.5 million, including $ 50 million in punitive damages, in an age discrimination suit”. (Toutant, 2017) The plaintiff in the case, a former engineer at Lockheed Martin accused the company of laying of older workers to hire younger workers for the same positions. Robert Braden, plaintiff, also alleged the company never provided a reason or manner in which they decided who they would lay off. While the article is does not specifically mention the facts that were presented in court, one must conclude based on the outcome of the case, that there was sufficient evidence by the plaintiffs or lack of explanation by the defense which led the jury to decide in the favor of the jury.

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Of course, there are some instances where people get paid minimum wage to do very difficult jobs that they should be making much more at, but for the most part the minimum wage is a useful guideline for companies to refer to when setting their wages. Today teenagers commonly think of the minimum wage and what the article refers to as a “crappy job” together. Williams writes in his articles that he and his friends

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First, one main reason that the minimum wage should be raised is because the economy will prosper. “Economic Policy Institute stated that a minimum wage increase from the current rate of $7.25 an hour to $10.10 would inject $22.1 billion net into the economy and create about 85,000 new jobs over a three-year phase-in period” (ProCon). This quote shows that the economy will flourish from the increase of the minimum wage and that unemployment will decrease. Another quote that shows how raising the minimum wage will affect employment is “To the extent that through these contour effects it affords as much as 70 percent of the workforce greater purchasing power, it effectively increases aggregate demand for goods and services, which should ultimately lead to the creation of more jobs” (Challenger 19). Bryan Covert supports raising the minimum wage by

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Ageism is a massive issue that is a part of our everyday lives. This form of discrimination can occur to any individual in any age range. Ageism is usually mentioned when expressing the prejudice older adults experience. The article, “What is Ageism?,” states that, “researchers have suggested that stereotypes about older people often relate to how younger people expect them to behave.” (Have You Experienced Ageism?2022)

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The media often reinforces two extreme stereotypes of older adults. One extreme stereotype shows the negative aspects by highlighting that old age is plagued by illness and a high dependence on others. The other extreme stereotype highlights the seniors that are doing exceptionally well by showing that they are completely independent, finally stable, and maintained a youthful look and persona. These portrayals do not represent the life challenges and successes of the mass majority of aging adults. Older adults are rarely represented in the media, so how they are represented truly matters to their overall image and approach to aging.

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At first glance, raising the current minimum wage seems like an outstanding idea and one may think, “Hey, it’s not hurting anyone.” In reality these good intentions will result in many unintended consequences such as causing businesses to hire fewer workers, it has no effect on reducing poverty and will decrease employment. A common misconception referring to minimum wage in the United States is that the current minimum wage is not enough to make a living and support a family. The majority of minimum wage workers are between the ages of 16 and 24 years old.

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The minimum wage is supposed to be the starting point of someone’s wage/entrance into the world of business. For example, if you start working somewhere, they might pay you minimum wage if you have no experience or no education in that particular area. If you’re only worth “x” amount of dollars an hour, I’ll only pay you “x” dollars per hour. This is why someone with a college degree will be able to go farther in life than most of those without a college degree.

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The United States has been fighting the war on alcohol since the 1920’s, and today it still remains as a highly debatable topic. Many Americans believe that keeping the drinking age at 21 is acceptable, while others believe that 18 is the year that you should be trusted to make your own life changing decisions. And did you know that there are only seven countries in the world (196 countries in the world total) who have their drinking age as high as 21, and the US is one of those seven? Once you're 18, you are not allowed to buy guns, drink alcohol, go to 21+ bars or clubs, rent a car, or even rent certain hotel rooms.

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Common Stereotypes Everyone at one time or another will stereotype a person or persons based on other opinions and statements about individuals, through their lifetime. The elderly are associated with negativity and that they are not part of society as functioning. The stereotype of the elderly are that they are senile, have memory lapses, irritable, cranky, boring, grumpy, physically and mentally weak, debilitated and cognitively impaired. Stereotypes of Color, Race, or Ethnicity-Related Because cultures are different, individuals of color, race or an ethnic background are thought to be the same and value the same things. Stereotypes of race seem to belittle the population no matter the age or accomplishments.

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The Minimum wage was inserted into law to counteract working forty plus hours a week and child labor. In today’s times the only thing minimum wage is doing is hurting young workers to get a job and keeping smaller business from growing. With the minimum wage in place it doesn’t guarantee a living, it guarantees

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Businesses have a demand for employees and attempt to fill this demand from the available supply of individuals in the economic marketplace. Each party agrees to specific wages for a certain level of service. Minimum wage laws can create higher wages than companies are willing to pay for specific employee services. Also if small businesses were to do this would bring in many unskilled or lower-level people who would apply. " They would entirely would be applying for just the money and not the work experience, also if they were to raise it many big businesses would try to shut that small business

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An employer must not discriminate during the hiring process, firing process, for promotion, benefits and/or any responsibilities or training (“Age Discrimination,” n.d). The act applies to all state and local governments, employers and facilities who employ at least twenty or more personnel (“Facts About,” 2008). The few circumstances when an employer can discriminate is when age is an absolute “bona fide” requirement for a job, such as a “Vogue” magazine model. Another exception is when an individual was selected over a younger employee solely based on age, regardless of the impact on the younger employee (“Facts About” n.d.). It has successfully protected employees over forty since its enactment and has demonstrated the need for legislation that combats age discrimination in the

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The people who make minimum wage very clearly express their theory that higher pay will benefit them and show many valid points on why it should be increased. Minimum wage workers work hard and "[s]ince the 1970s, productivity has risen dramatically... [y]et middle- and low-wage workers ' incomes have barely changed" (Dorn). These circumstances make it hard for low wage workers to stay above the poverty line when the average low wage worker makes only $15,000 annually (Dorn). Before inflation, the minimum wage was surprisingly much higher, "in 1968, the minimum wage was close to $10 per hour in today 's dollars" (Dorn).

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Younger employees can assist older employees by sharing new ideas whereas older employees can share positive qualities including experience, judgment, strong work ethic and commitment to quality. By this way it is possible to reduce age discrimination in the workplace. But the main role will be played by organization by maintaining the good relationship between

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