Are you one of thousands and thousands of Millennials who are struggling to find a job in today’s competitive economy and business markets? With companies feeling the squeeze of the looming threat of a recession, most are hesitant to hire anyone who does not have years of experience, if not decades. It might be that you are being turned away because of your young face and demeanor.
Wouldn’t it be age discrimination if someone didn’t hire you because you were young, though? You might be surprised to find that it is not.
Under California and federal employment laws, age discrimination only protects people aged 40 or older. If you are 39 or under, then an employer can freely turn you away because you are “too young.”
Why Does Age Discrimination Apply Just to 40 & Up?
Historically, age discrimination in the workplace has affected middle-aged and senior-aged people the most dramatically. Companies assume youths have more workplace stamina, mental acuity, and so forth, which may tempt some to turn away older applicants for no reason other than their age. Or, an older worker might be given less opportunities to advance their position or wages due to their age alone.
It is only in recent years that the U.S. has seen an uptick of age discrimination against the young. Many companies, especially large white collar corporations, avoid Millennials and anyone younger at all costs. The discrimination stems from a general societal biasness that assumes Millennials “want everything handed to them” and, therefore, will not take their work seriously. Unfortunately, employment laws have not caught up to society just yet, so there are no protections for members of younger generations looking for employment.
For more information about workplace discrimination and what can be done to stop it, you can call (888) 796-4010 and connect with Polaris Law Group in Hollister, California. We assist employees throughout the state with complicated cases that need to be brought against their employers, who are usually national or international conglomerates.