Feeling discriminated against at your job can impact your motivation and morale. Depending on your situation, mistreatment could threaten your job and cause fear.
Knowing how to respond to age discrimination can help you stay poised. Your response could make a difference in your ability to protect yourself and advocate for your rights.
Document your experiences
At the earliest sign of unease, begin documenting your experiences. Take note of any mistreatment you receive including who perpetrated it, when it happened and how you felt afterward. Compare your experiences with other accounts you may find online or through talking with other people.
Contact the HR department
Speak with representatives in your company’s human resources department. Express your concern and frustration and ask for help reaching a solution. You should receive communication from them notifying you of any remedies. If they ignore your request for help or dispute your experience, you may need to take your complaints elsewhere such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Advocate for your rights
The law protects your rights. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, if you are 40 years or older, you have protections under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act or ADEA. Any violation of these protections justifies your action. You have the right to take legal action if your experience has resulted in the loss of your job or interfered with your physical or emotional well-being in any way.
Taking action when you experience discrimination can prevent ongoing mistreatment. Your courage to take a stand may also prevent similar experiences from happening to other people.
