age discrimination

A Perfect Storm for Age Discrimination

Posted on 02/16/2012 by Deb Silverberg | AARP Blog Author | Comments

WorkYes, there’s a perfect storm — but there’s also an opportunity. A Supreme Court ruling, combined with a seemingly never-ending cycle of long-term unemployment, has had a chilling effect on age discrimination cases. They’re more frequent and harder to prove, according to experts cited in this NPR Morning Edition segment. People over 50 don’t need news headlines to tell them that age discrimination is alive and well. They know firsthand. On average, it takes someone age 55 or over three …

Are Older People Treated With Less Respect?

Posted on 01/13/2012 by Candy Sagon | Personal Health and Well-being | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal HealthDo you think you get worse service and people treat you with less respect and courtesy if you’re older? A surprising proportion of older people say ‘yes.’ In fact, one in three say they feel they’ve been mistreated because of their age, according to a recent study published in Research on Aging. Even more troubling, the effects of this perceived discrimination results in more depression and lower ratings of self-reported health, reports the New York Times. The study looked at the …

Over 50 and Unemployed?

Posted on 10/21/2011 by Deb Silverberg | AARP Blog Author | Comments

WorkI wish we had better news for all the people out there who are unemployed or underemployed – especially for jobless people 50+. One report citing September figures noted, “Good News for Older Jobseekers Remains Elusive.” That’s one way to put it. Depressing might be another—especially if you’ve been out of work for more than a year. “Will I ever work again?” is a common thought for unemployed people over 50, many of whom have been jobless for an average …

The Takeaway: Weight Watchers, Fashion Icons and Middle Ageism in America

Posted on 09/8/2011 by Elizabeth Brown | Brooklyn, NY | Comments

News RoundupsOverweight patients following the Weight Watchers plan lost around 50 percent more weight in one year than people who got tried standard diet-and-exercise … “Retirement is for old people,” said 79-year-old Italian designer Valentino Garavani … Middle ageism in America has become a tacit business practice … And a French judge fines man for not having enough sex with his wife.

Speedos, Post-Its and Age Discrimination

Posted on 08/24/2011 by Deb Silverberg | AARP Blog Author | Comments

Money & Savings | WorkDid you hear about the Long Island lifeguard who was fired for refusing to wear a Speedo for his annual swim test? Roy Lester was in his late 50s at the time, and he sued. I say good for him. Age discrimination comes in many forms. A recent headline-grabbing example: Many higher paid employees over age 45 lost their jobs, while leadership training was directed to younger workers. This EEOC-supported suit resulted in a $3 million judgment against 3M. Apparently …

The Takeaway: Too Old to Wear Speedos? Social Security Disability Payments in Danger?

Posted on 08/22/2011 by Tina Johnson-Marcel | The Takeaway | Comments

News RoundupsStandard policy or discrimination? A New York man says he was fired from his job as a lifeguard in 2007 because he refused to wear the required bikini-style swimsuit for an annual qualifying swim test. Roy Lester, now 61, filed a lawsuit claiming age discrimination. Lester, who has 40 years of water safety experience, says older lifeguards were slowly being phased out of Jones Beach and the swimsuit mandate was a way to do it.