Does 'reverse ageism' exist in the workplace? Here's what you need to know

By?Mariah Flores

Workplace ageism ?is real, yet it can be quite difficult to spot, recognize and thus, prove.

“Proving age discrimination isn't easy because there is often little direct evidence of misconduct,” reports?Kiplinger . From 2010 to 2017, only 1% of the 205,000 age discrimination claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) were ever proven.

And yes, ageism can affect younger workers, too.

Reverse ageism: what is it??

Commonly, we think of ageism as solely an issue for older workers …?as an issue reserved only for those 40 and over.?

In reality, younger millennial and Gen Z workers can — and do — face bias based on their age, also known as reverse ageism, from non-inclusive?job descriptions ?and hiring practices to subtle?generational jokes .

In fact, a?2021 Harris Poll ?conducted exclusively for Fast Company found that 36% of Gen Z or younger millennial workers (under the age of 32) “report experiencing age-based discrimination at work — which may be tied to perceived deficits in experience.”

“Reverse ageism is discriminating against someone because they are younger, as opposed to older,” says?Megan Gerhardt, Ph.D. , professor of Management and Leadership at?Miami University ?and author of “Gentelligence: A Revolutionary Approach to Leading an Intergenerational Workforce ”. “If two candidates have equivocal qualifications and experience, but one is younger, using their young age as a reason to not hire them would be an example of reverse ageism.”

The subtlety of reverse ageism?

Still wrapping your head around reverse ageism? It’s not always explicit, but look close enough and you’ll start to spot it. For Gerhardt, implicit and subtle forms of reverse age bias manifest in passing statements or remarks.

“I have been in a number of meetings where someone (and not always someone older, young people can also demonstrate reverse ageism) will say, ‘That candidate was great, they just seem a little young for the job’ or ‘ wish they looked older, I'm not sure people will take them seriously.”

She shares other examples of age-based microaggressions, including:?

• Older coworkers addressing younger female employees as “girls.”
• Backhanded compliments like, “There's no way you are old enough to be a [insert respected job title here...doctor, lawyer, vice president].” or “You don't look older than 18, are you sure you are old enough to have this job?”
• Viewing Gen Zers or millennials as “disloyal, entitled, narcissistic, selfish, demanding of praise, unable to handle criticism, disrespectful of authority,” lazy or unprofessional.

“What Gen Z and Millennials themselves may see as proactive behavior is often seen by those in older generations as entitled,” writes Gerhardt in her?book .?

Another major way younger workers can be discriminated against is professional experience — or the lack thereof.?

"Must have 'x' years of experience"

Just think about the last job posting you read.

?Any mention of “x” years of experience? Maybe the employer is looking for those with higher-level degrees. Even for entry-level positions, explicit experience requirements can directly affect whether or not someone applies for a job — and?harm talent hiring .

“When candidates are not evaluated on their qualifications, or when age is somehow mixed in as a benefit or a hindrance, we need to be concerned about ageism,” states Gerhardt.

And companies might not realize the actual effect of their rigid job requirements.?

“[I] think sometimes firms might not realize that they're gatekeeping opportunities from younger people who can do the job, but don't have the years of experience to basically prove that,” says?Meagan Loyst , LinkedIn Top Voice and CEO and founder of?Gen Z VCs .?

Younger workers may question their ability to be good employees or job candidates, asking themselves, “Do I have enough experience?”, “Am I too young to be taken seriously at work?”, or “Is what I’m experiencing really ageism?”

Also, not every college student is able to secure an internship or build up professional work experience during college.

“Imagine you're a student athlete … you're on the sailing team, you're going to sailing meets all over the country, and traveling, and weights and everything like that. It's basically a part-time job, right? But it doesn't necessarily translate to [internship] experience,” says Loyst.

Employers can miss out on great talent across all generations, by not having “an open mind when it comes to years of experience on a job application.” And remember: experience doesn’t always equate to a?new hire’s success ?or expertise.

“But I think Gen Zers in particular are defying a lot of those standards and norms by proving that there are other qualifications that can sort of show that you get the job,” states Loyst.?

Such qualifications younger workers can highlight during their job search beyond internships include?volunteer work ,?hobbies ,?extracurricular activities , deep dive?research , transferable skills,?study abroad ?or online courses.

Combating reverse ageism

The best way to address and combat workplace ageism is by raising awareness, says Gerhardt.?

By viewing workplace ageism as just an “older issue,” both employees and companies negate and exclude the experiences of the whole increasingly multigenerational workforce. Both employees and employers need to acknowledge how age can be used to perpetuate bias against every generation, from Gen Zers to Boomers.?

Sadly, there are very few legal protections set in place for younger employees who face age discrimination.?

The?Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) ?“forbids age discrimination against people who are age 40 or older. It does not protect workers under the age of 40.” Only a handful of individual states have passed formal protections for workers under the age of 40.?

If we want to be truly committed to building?positive workplace cultures , we need to tackle ageism (and other forms of?discrimination ) holistically and acknowledge the negative impacts it has on every generation.?

Forbes?shares ?some actionable steps to address reverse ageism:?

• Create company-wide education on diversity and inclusion, while labeling and eliminating harmful stereotypes like ageism and reverse ageism.
• Update existing policies, protocols and procedures that support people of all ages.?
• Create a young professionals group within your company or industry.
• Create a safe and anonymous reporting channel for employees to report any kind of discrimination, including reverse-ageism.
• Foster a collaborative environment of transparency that allows open, multi-generational conversations and solidarity.?
• Avoid meetings or presentations where only older employees' voices are heard. Give the floor to everyone to grow and evolve.?
• Talk about it. Encourage employees to speak authentically about their experiences instead of suppressing negative interactions.

On a more personal level, overcoming age bias or feelings of inadequacy begins with creative action.?

You may be frightened by a job posting or afraid of being taken seriously. However, you’ll never know the outcome if you don’t take action, which can sometimes require some creativity and confidence.?

“I think creativity helps land more jobs than you would think, especially when you don't necessarily meet all of the qualifications. And know that sometimes you're going to have to go above and beyond to be seen, but that's okay. And that should be celebrated,” says Loyst.?

“[Y]our youth is an asset. It's a fresh perspective in the workplace. Use it. Don't see it as a deterrent for something that you can't do or accomplish.”

(A version of this article first appeared on December 2, 2022, on the?Get Ahead by LinkedIn News page . You can read the full article, which was written and reported by?Mariah Flores , by?clicking here .)

?? Always be a student

Finding a workplace with an inclusive culture is one way to avoid reverse ageism. To learn how you can succeed in an inclusive workplace, check out this LinkedIn Learning course . It covers everything you need to know about developing interpersonal skills. Watch the course below or by clicking here .

?? College corner

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