Results from a new survey conducted by the career search firm MyPerfectResume show that virtually all of the more than 1,000 people polled believe that there is at least some degree of ageism in the workplace.
At the same time, more than nine in 10 participants in the survey of working Americans 40 and older say they have felt pressure to conceal their age or downplay their experience to avoid negative perceptions from colleagues or bosses.
Further, 86% believe that older employees are a target for workplace bullying.
“Workers over 40 are exhibiting behaviors that indicate that they feel their age is something to hide in the workplace,” said Jasmine Escalera, a MyPerfectResume career search expert.
Other key findings include show 95% of respondents feel that age-related stereotypes have affected their sense of belonging or inclusion in the workplace, while 88% admitted to sometimes adapting their behavior or language to fit in with younger colleagues.
Pressure to Seem Youthful
As noted, most workers aged 40 and older admit to adjusting how they act and speak at work to avoid standing out, with men doing so at higher rates than women.
When asked how often they adapted their behavior or language to fit in with younger colleagues, 69% said they "sometimes" change their behavior or language to fit in with younger colleagues. About one in five (19%) said they "often" change their natural behavior or language to fit in with younger colleagues, while 11% said they "rarely" do so.
Only 2% of respondents said they never change how they act or speak around younger coworkers.
Stereotypes Hurt Older Workers and Organizations
Ageism in the workplace affects the psyches of older workers, according to the survey.
Most respondents (95%) reported feeling age-related stereotypes have affected their sense of belonging or inclusion in the workplace. Similarly, the majority of older workers (86%) believe that they are targets for workplace bullying.
“When 92% of older employees feel compelled to conceal their age or downplay their experience, it’s a clear sign that workplace cultures need a shift,” Escalera said. “Age diversity should be seen as an asset, not an obstacle.”
For this change to happen, she argued, older workers’ skills and experience should be celebrated by organizations.
“An alarming percentage of our workforce does not feel valued despite bringing a wealth of experience to the table,” Escalera added.
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