Are you getting fewer advancement opportunities coming your way since hitting your 50s? Age discrimination affects many Hawaii workers over 40, but identifying and addressing it can feel overwhelming.
Common signs of age discrimination
There are many ways others may discriminate against you for your age. Common red flags to watch out for are:
- Negative age-related comments: Hearing phrases like “old school,” “dinosaur” or “not tech-savvy enough” can go beyond good-natured teasing
- Exclusion from activities: Getting left out of important meetings while younger employees get invited
- Passed over for promotions: Only younger, less experienced workers get promoted
- Targeted for layoffs: Noticing that most people losing their jobs during cuts are older workers
- Limited training opportunities: Less chances to learn new skills compared to younger staff
- Different treatment: Facing tougher standards or discipline than younger coworkers for similar issues
- Performance criticism: Getting unusually harsh reviews despite good work history
- Job reassignment: Moving to less desirable positions or reducing responsibilities
Sometimes, the discrimination can start at the recruitment stage, with job postings intentionally seeking younger hires, calling for “digital natives” or people with “fresh perspectives.”
Steps to address age discrimination
If you face any form of age discrimination, it’s crucial to document your experience. Write everything down—save emails, take notes after conversations, and record unfair comments with dates and witnesses. These serve as evidence to help prove your case.
Additionally, check your employee handbook to find out how to file complaints at your workplace. Then, file a formal complaint with HR and notify any superiors if necessary.
State laws that protect your rights
Hawaii gives workers stronger protection against age discrimination than federal laws do.
State law protects employees at all companies. Meanwhile, federal law only covers bigger companies with at least 15 or 20 employees. This means even if you work at a small business, state law still protects you.
Take note that you have a limited timeframe to notify the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission about any discrimination you experience. Working with an experienced legal professional can help you ensure you meet all requirements and deadlines and protect your rights.