Putting an End to Age Discrimination

Age discrimination has been illegal for more than 50 years, however a 2018 AARP survey of people age 45 and over show problems persist. More than 60% of respondents witnessed or experienced age discrimination in the workplace and nearly 45% of those who applied or interviewed for a job in the previous two years were asked age-related questions such as birth and graduation dates.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, older workers will make up the fastest-growing segment of the workforce from 2014 to 2024. With 436,000 workers in their mid-50s, Connecticut has the sixth-oldest workforce in the nation.

AARP Connecticut joins a bipartisan group of legislators, the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, and additional advocates in support of Senate Bill 85, which prohibits employers from asking the date of birth, or school attendance and graduation dates of job applicants. The bill is similar to a bill introduced last year, House Bill 6113, which passed the Labor Committee.

Knowing someone’s age can create a bias that prevents a qualified job applicant from getting a fair chance for a position. Employers should evaluate the qualifications on a job application, not an age. This legislation reduces that risk and levels the playing field.

Legislators will hold a public hearing on the bill at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 2:30 p.m., in Room 2B. All are welcome to attend and those who would like to add their support to the record can do so by sending an email (with their name and town of residence at a minimum) to agetestimony@cga.ct.gov.

While age discrimination is illegal, we live in a society where age seems to be the last acceptable bias. Senate Bill 85 will remove an obstacle in the hiring process and make a real difference for older workers in Connecticut. We should not accept discrimination of any kind, on any level or of any sort.