Older workers, age discrimination is still a big issue in today's job market, but things are starting to change!
Dates No Longer Required
The Job Application Fairness Act in Colorado, effective July 1, 2024, will prevent employers from asking job applicants for dates about their age, birth, or attendance and graduation from schools, on initial job applications. Employers can no longer use age information to screen out applicants. This law, which will help both older and younger job seekers and contribute to more diversity in recruiting, follows similar moves in California, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.
Applicants are Fighting Back
Older job seekers are no longer tolerating age discrimination. A 67-year-old Virginia man has sued Raytheon for age discrimination in its hiring practices, accusing the company of using phrases such as “recent college graduate” or “new graduate” in its job listings.
This case highlights the need for employers to review and change their hiring practices to eliminate age bias, especially as research shows that more retirees are “unretiring”.
Older Workers Need to Speak Up
Older workers, as the job market evolves, making sure every candidate gets a fair chance should be a top priority for employers. The Job Application Fairness Act in the US is a major step in the right direction; we need to work towards similar legislation in Canada, so the job market is inclusive for everyone.
Provincial elections are taking place in British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia in 2024; which parties will prioritize older workers in their election platform? These elections offer everyone an opportune chance to find out how their MLAs plan to support measures that prevent discrimination and promote the employment of older workers.
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