Age Discrimination in the Society - Term Paper Example

?Age Discrimination in the Society Introduction When employment becomes scarce and population continues to increase, there is a tendency to change job qualifications from skill-focused to the overall qualities of the prospective employee. This includes the age, when it is not really necessary for the job description. Age discrimination is defined by Federal law as "discrimination when it comes to any aspects of employment including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotion, layoff, and training" with the basis of age (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, n.d.). The law protects the employment of the citizens aged 40 and above, and is not applicable for any "reasonable factor other than age" (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, n.d.). The law against age discrimination provides an equal employment opportunity for all Americans and helps them reach their full potential as employees with regard to their qualifications. Age discrimination hurts not only the people directly affected by it, but also in the overall effect of morality and the country’s economic thrusts. Age Discrimination and the Society Joyce Kalivas-Griffin, 57, and an experienced school teacher, believes that she failed to get a job she applied for because of her age (Linn, 2010). While she cries for age discrimination, Joyce's situation is not a solitary case in the world of employment. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reports that there is a "33 percent increase in the number of age discrimination complaints filed during the past two fiscal years combined" (Linn, 2010). The impact of age discrimination does not only magnify the unequal treatment of aged employees despite their contribution and experience, but also reflects the superficial perspective of employers when it comes to choosing the right candidate for a job position. The law states, however, that the employer has the right to advertise age requirement only if it is necessary for the job. For example, a bartending position needs someone who is at least at the legal drinking age, but should not provide age limitation. Ageism poses different threats in the structural society and thereby causes a domino effect to the different aspects of the person affected and the society where he belongs. For instance, a man in his mid-50 was laid off because of his age. He is the breadwinner of his family and the sole provider for his children concerning education, food and shelter. His wife, on the other hand, is a plain housewife. His loss of employment has an immediate effect to him and to his family in a sense that the source of income is completely gone. Consider the effect it would bring to this 50-year old man. For so long, his family has been relying on him when it comes to everyday sustenance, and when unemployment comes as a shock, it would be harder for him to recover both financially and emotionally. The feeling of worthlessness enslaves the discriminated man and consequently affects his health due to stress. The money saved within the duration of employment reserved for his retirement years would be spent. The worst thing is, the savings may not be enough to compensate and would force him to resort to debts. According to McDowell (n.d.), the struggle of the victims of age discrimination may range from economic difficulties to psychological problems. Denial is a common form of self-preservation in this kind of case. When discriminated because of age, old people tend to do everything just to look younger and prove that they are still capable of doing the task as efficiently as the younger ones. They also resort to self-pity, detrimental to their overall psychological health. Butler (1975) said that victims of age discrimination wished “they were dead” at a certain point in their senior lives. Personal effects of age discrimination affect the person in all aspects of his life. What is unseen, however, is the impact it can bring to the nation’s economy as a whole. Personal debt is one of the economic constraints of employment discrimination, but this is not the only concern that could arise immediately after being laid off from work because of age. The “free rider” problem is a bigger counter-effect to the society which discriminates the aged employees. A free rider is someone who is part of the economic cycle, consuming an allocation without contribution. This includes the elderly who have lost their jobs because of age discrimination, children in public schools from low-income families, and other dependents of government assistance. If age discrimination should be exercised in all work places, there will be an increase of dependents of government assistance, relying on the worker’s taxes. If parents should have a limited capacity of ensuring daily sustenance, the more likely it is that they will depend on the government--an additional burden to the Federal fund. Age Discrimination: A Social Problem It is natural for a business establishment to look for employees who are efficient. However, along with efficiency, the requirement of being physically capable to do intense tasks should also be considered. This is the part where most aged employees usually fail. Health issues are the main concern of employers not hiring employees who belong to the 40’s age bracket and above. Furthermore, experienced employees are usually granted higher salaries than the younger ones because of their knowledge and expertise of the field. Looking at it, it seems reasonable for employers to consider age as one of the factors in granting employment opportunities. However, the downside of it might cause the business to weaken even more. Senior employees are actually assets to a business, provided that they are still capable of doing the job. Their years of experience molded them as better employees than what they were the first time they got hired. Of course, giving a chance for younger employees to work is also encouraged, but when all of the employees are neophytes, there will be no one to act as a mentor in the workplace. Age discrimination does not only violate the law, but also trespasses one’s right to preserve human dignity. Being aged does not necessarily mean worthless, but with age discrimination, it made people feel they are. The law states that age should not be a determiner for an employee to be laid off; however, this law is not perfectly implemented to all business establishments. Some would even fire employees before reaching the age where the company has to give them extra benefits for services. Considering that age discrimination has both psychological effects for the victims and economic difficulties to the nation, society must eliminate age discrimination. The fact that it stereotypes older people as less capable would mean that it violates the right of the person to provide. Age discrimination does not only happen in the workplace which prevents the aged person to do the things young ones can, such as being in a relationship. Senior romance is often frowned upon by their younger counterparts and consequently prevents them in having a relationship that could give “emotional stability;” a psychological need especially for older people (McDowell, n.d.). Adding up to the emotional stress of being fired from work, social biases in age narrow the world in which the victim moves. Little does society knows that age discrimination also affects them in other ways. Conclusion The effect of age discrimination is broad. Primarily, it is the victim’s personal life that is affected, but the concern stretches up to the nation’s economy. Unemployed individuals are basically dependent on government support, and age discrimination increases the number of free riders. This poses as a burden to the working class since taxes are heavily imposed on them. Age discrimination is both illegal and immoral because it violates law and human dignity. References Butler, R. N. (1975). Why survive? Being old in America. Maryland: John Hopkins University Press. Linn, A. (2010, June 29). Age bias complaints surge in bad economy. msnbc.com. Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37924201/ns/ business-stocks_and_economy/t/age-bias-complaints-surge-bad-economy/ McDowell, R. (n.d.). The effects of age discrimination. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/list_6641209_effects-age-discrimination.html U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (n.d.). Age discrimination. 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