Ageism can be one of the worst paradoxes of the labour market. People work hard for decades and are then penalized.

The problem continues to worsen: According to the latest research, nearly 80% of older workers claim they have experienced or witnessed age discrimination at work. surveyBy AARP. It was the highest percentage since 2003 when the group asked the question.

The economy is recovering from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, but older workers have difficulty getting rehired. There was a 36% increase in the number of people over the age 55 that were unemployed for “long term,” which is defined as someone who has been seeking a job since February. That’s more than 23% compared with those 16-54. Around 25% of workers are over 55.

I get heartbreaking emails from highly-qualified people, and they send hundreds to hundreds of emails without ever getting an answer. Ashton ApplewhiteAuthor of This Chair Rocks, A Manifesto Against Ageism. They are so demoralized.

The psychological implications of discrimination are not surprising. Ageism is believed to have caused around 6.3 million depression cases worldwide. accordingThe World Health Organization.

Experts say anyone feeling like they are paying too much for their age is not alone. These are strategies that can help you combat this problem.

ResearchResearch shows older adults who are exposed to negative subliminal age-stereotypes have a higher likelihood of failing to do cognitive or physical tasks. Dr. Vânia de la Fuente-NúñezManager of The World Health Organization’s global campaign against ageism

On the flip side, de la Fuente-Núñez said, studies find that individuals with more positive self-perceptions of ageing experienced better functional health and greater longevity.

“Age stereotypes that we internalize can generate expectations that act as self-fulfilling prophecies,” de la Fuente-Núñez said.

This is a common way to think about how this could affect your professional life. You might believe older people have less technology skills. If this is the case, then you could assume that you don’t know how to master digital skills.

Applewhite suggests being more skeptical about generalizations to help you unwind this pessimism.

She said, “The less we fear about ageing the more we learn.” Our anxieties can be out of line with the facts. (She stated that seniors are often shocked to find out, for instance: 2.5% of Americans 65+ live in nursing home.

As we age, some memory problems and slow processing speeds are common, but comprehension, reading, vocabulary, and other abilities can still be achieved. remain stable — or even get better — with time, research shows.

Applewhite stated, “We speak about aging like it’s all loss. But there are also gains.” I’m looking for an older person who wants to go back in their youth.

Alison ChasteenProfessor at the University of Toronto, who studies prejudice, found that older people fared better during the pandemic.

Was there a secret to their success? Their secret was to focus on those areas that could be grown.

Chasteen stated, “We refer to the feeling that one’s on a path of improvement.”

There are now more options than ever to allow older workers to keep on moving forward, it seems. John TarnoffCareer transition coach.

He referred to the seemingly limitless number free contentYouTube as well as available classes on platforms such YouTube Coursera, Udemy, SkillshareAnd GetSetUp.ioThe Learning Community for People Over 50.

A second strategy is to contact directly the person, he stated. techOr softwarecompany they are interested in learning more. Tarnoff indicated that most companies can provide training and information to assist you in getting started.

Numerous citiesYou can also get employment servicesFor seniors, at very little or no cost. This includes job placements and resume guidance.

At the same time, some older workers worry too much about a specific skill they lack — say, a proficiency on Salesforce — and lose sight of all they’ve learned over the course of their career, Tarnoff said. This wisdom is not something you can learn in one video.

He stated, “There are many things we bring to our table that aren’t listed on the webpage.” You’re selling yourself short if you don’t understand the strategic value you and the experience that you have gained over decades of work.

Chasteen is a professor at the University of Toronto who studies prejudice. He has discovered in recent researchIt is more common for older adults to respond positively to encounters with ageism than, for example, those who are accusatory.

One example is when an older person receives help to perform a task that’s beyond their abilities. This is a form of benevolent aging.

Chasteen explained that they found the moderation approach, which was to say, “Thanks, but I’m able to manage myself,” resulted is less negativity towards the elderly.

She added that such a reply acknowledges the likelihood of no malice on the part the person offering the help. The older person can also use this opportunity to demonstrate their ability in handling the situation.

People should keep track of any instances of discrimination based on age and report these incidents. Jeff VardaroA Columbus-based civil rights lawyer.

Vardaro explained, “It won’t fix it.” These issues must be taken into their own hands by workers. His explanation was that it is unlikely you want to wait to file your complaint because some states mandate reporting issues involving age discrimination within a specified time.

Vardaro advised that your notes on the experiences you have had should be as specific as possible. Instead of writing “Your boss made a comment about your age,” you should specify the 24 occasions that he asked when you were retiring. He said, “It can really be useful when you report it.”

You should first contact your HR department. However, don’t worry if the conversation goes nowhere. The HR department may be part of an ageist culture, unfortunately.

Vardaro stated that sometimes human resources are in the loop because they feel compelled to replace older workers with younger workers at a lower cost. He added that at the end of it all, his job was to “protect the company not the workers.”

You should file a complaint if you don’t feel that your concerns are being considered seriously. a complaintWith the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Vardaro stated that a number of states have a system where submitting a federal lawsuit automatically activates a state suit. But it really depends on the state,” Vardaro said. People should talk to an attorney before bringing a case.

Vardaro explained that although it’s against the law for your bosses to make you feel bad for contacting the EEOC. But, Vardaro added, “Retaliation still takes place.”

He said, “I advise employees to file an internal complaint and/or file a charge once they have made a complaint.” We often find that it is easier to hold employers responsible for retaliation rather than the discriminatory act itself.

Applewhite stated that one of the best ways to fight ageism in older adults is to not hide who they really are.

She said, “If it feels like you are experiencing discrimination,” No judgment if you need to color your hair or alter your resume. You can do whatever you want.

She said that as long as we act younger than our age, we can contribute to discrimination.

The Gerontological Society of America, The Journalists Network on Generations, and The Silver Century Foundation supported the writing of this article..