Age discrimination occurs when a decision is made on the basis of a person’s age. In the workplace, these are most often decisions about being employed in the first place, winning promotions or being unfairly dismissed. Should discrimination against older workers be made illegal?
MY RESPONSE-
These days, the employers often discriminate employees based on their age rather than work. Such practice is irrational and it is agreed that government should ban such discrimination.
There are a number of reasons for banning age related discrimination. Firstly, there is no rational explanation for favouring one employee over another on basis of age. Instead the rational thing is to make decisions based on quality of work and accomplishments by an employee. Secondly, a healthy society should treat all its members equally without any biases. And having a law will go a long way in promoting this. Finally, there is no evidence that older employees are inefficient than younger people. Rather, what they lack in energy or vigour is more than compensated by their invaluable experience.
However, some people think that older people are liability because of their age. Being prone to illness, they may take more leaves. Or they may retire soon and so should not be trusted with important or powerful positions in the company.
In my opinion, such concerns are baseless and decisions like promotions should solely be based on present and past performances rather than future concerns. And the government should play its role by making a law to make any age related discrimination illegal, thereby providing equal opportunities to all its citizens.