Age Harassment At Work

Age harassment at work is unwelcome conduct directed at someone because of their age. It is unlawful under Australian anti-discrimination law, and the protection runs in both directions.

The direction people miss is the younger one. Remarks about being too inexperienced to have a view, jokes about a generation’s work ethic, or being excluded from decisions on the basis of age are covered on identical terms. Younger workers rarely name it as harassment, so it goes unreported and unaddressed.

At the older end it usually appears as assumptions rather than insults. Comments about retirement plans, being passed over for training on the basis that it would not be worth it, or being described as resistant to change.

Both patterns tend to be treated as banter until someone leaves.

The Australian Human Rights Commission covers age discrimination. This is general information rather than legal advice.

See Sentrient’s equal employment opportunity course and respect at work training.