Many New York and New Jersey workers start their careers ready to work hard and feel excited for what the future will bring.
However, when you find that you are repeatedly being turned down for jobs due to lack of experience or not receiving the same opportunities at your job as others, you might wonder if your youth is working against you and you are being discriminated against because of your young age. Is this possible and if so, is there anything you can do about it?
Federal age discrimination law
Right now, federal law only recognizes age discrimination for workers age 40 and over. Traditionally, older workers faced discrimination as employers looked to fill their roles with younger employees for various reasons.
Employers can save money by paying younger workers less than workers who have been employed there for decades. Younger workers could also be viewed as more enthusiastic, energetic and willing to learn.
However, in recent years, views have shifted and some employers could limit hiring or promoting young employees due to a perception that they do not work as hard or expect too much.
Although you cannot seek the protection of federal law for age discrimination, you may have other options. If you are facing discrimination at your current workplace, you might want to look for better employment or enhance your skills and credentials to demonstrate that you take your career seriously.
You may be the victim of another type of discrimination. Your race, gender or ethnicity could be the underlying reason for the lack of opportunities or promotions, rather than your age.
Next steps
Start documenting every negative experience you have with a current or potential employer. Write down the date and time of each incident, who you were with and what happened. Begin to look for patterns. This will help you learn if your rights are being violated and you have an employment discrimination claim.