Ageism In Australia

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The pervasiveness of ageism for those over forty-five within the workforce, and for those attempting to re-enter the workforce, is a significant global issue. This essay will illustrate how the discussion of ageism has gone from a local to a global concern encompassing the continual abuse of human rights. It will also discuss how Australia and the rest of the world is dealing with the issues of workplace and employment ageism, and how the likelihood of those over forty-five re-entering the workforce is met with resistance from both employers and the industry. Finally, this essay will examine how human rights based practice fits within social work, and what changes have occurred throughout the years of social work practice.

The principle of …show more content…

Therefore, organisations are reluctant to allow researchers on their premises for fear of legal repercussions (Brooke & Taylor, 2005). To avoid litigation, employers and supervisors can coerce an older worker to leave or retire by increasing his or her workload, or giving more severe recommendations for poor performance than what younger workers receive during an employee review (Rupp, Vodanovich, & Crede, 2006). From 2011–2013, 480,000 Australian workers felt they were discriminated against because of their age (Anon., 2013, p. 31). In addition over 300,000 elderly jobs seekers also felt they had been discriminated against. ‘Age discrimination is the most common experience, which perhaps shouldn't be surprising given Australia's ageing population’ (Wilkins, R, 2013, as cited in anon, 2013, p.3). In 2013, the International Business Times stated that thirteen percent of the 3000 participants over the age of 45 felt they had been discriminated against because of their age. They also experienced derogatory comments, which forced them out of employment (Yenko, 2013). Ageism in employment is not just an Australian issue but also a global …show more content…

However, only 2,181 cases could be legally verified. These verified cases found that workers most likely to face ageism within the workplace were from skilled and semi-skilled industries, such a manufacturing and construction; higher status workers; and those approaching 50 years of age. The experiences and challenges of these workers were expulsion, exclusion, lack of promotion, demotion and harassment (Roscigno, Mong, Byron, & Tester, 2007). The statistical and empirical research in Australia and the rest of the world shows similar data; the older workers are discriminated against, resulting in the younger workers obtaining employment. Older workers are considered as inferior, memory impaired and less alert (Gringart, Helmes, & Speelman, 2005, p. 96). The discussion of ageism over time has not changed. However, workers are becoming more aware of their rights under the Age Discrimination Act, and their access to Human Rights Laws both in Australia and

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