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Ageism:
“Prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age” – Oxford Dictionary
Age equity:
“An equitable society for all ages requires intergenerational collaboration.” – Ashton Applewhite, author and anti-ageism activist.
When you hear about diversity and inclusion at US companies, usually the focus is on hiring more women or people of color. And while there has been some progress in hiring people in those demographics, there is one large demographic that is not even mentioned: older workers.
That is one of the reasons we created Age Equity Alliance, a volunteer organization whose mission is to identify, educate and train (as necessary), and certify age-inclusive companies. Our vision is to be a respected, reliable partner to companies and organizations that value age equity and promote age equity in all they do. Our purpose is to empower job-seekers, employees, and employers to prioritize and foster a culture of age equity.
Consider the following facts as posed in a September 2019 Harvard Business Review article:
- Life expectancy is 79 years, compared to only 47 years at the beginning of the 20th century.
- In the US, Germany, Japan and other developed countries the birth rate is only 1.7-1.9 children, which is far below replacement of retiring workers.
- By 2025, it is expected 25 percent of workers in the US and UK will be over 55.
- Yet, two-thirds of those 45-74 have experienced age discrimination in the form of demotions, less opportunities or layoffs.
The question we pose is what can be done to better integrate this ever-growing demographic into the workforce to increase productivity and debunk the myths of the older worker?
We believe one answer is to educate, train, and certify companies about the meaning and benefits of age-inclusivity and how unconscious bias and stereotyping steals potential business success. Our organization is committed to promoting multigenerational, age-inclusive companies and partnering with those who need the know-how to move in that direction. Our organization is working on training and a certification program to persuade companies to embrace a multigenerational workforce.
We believe one answer is to educate, train, and certify companies about the meaning and benefits of age-inclusivity and how unconscious bias and stereotyping steals potential business success. Our organization is committed to promoting multigenerational, age-inclusive companies and partnering with those who need the know-how to move in that direction. Our organization is working on training and a certification program to persuade companies to embrace a multigenerational workforce.
-Sheila Callaham, Executive Director
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