Is the ‘Ageism’ Bias Avoidable Business?

Context:  Ageism is a stereotype that could affect anyone at any point in their life. Every person has to be valued on the basis of the skills, experience and his/her enthusiasm towards a particular thing than the age.

Age-bias in our society:

• In Hiring: whereby employers prefer younger applicants for more current skill-sets and ostensibly fresher ideas.
• On-the-job situations:  in which older workers are harassed and prevented from advancing due to misperceptions about their tech skills.
• In Firing: whereby older workers are targeted for dismissals because of false perceptions about their higher pay levels and lower visible contributions.

• In start-ups and their funding: Venture capitalists prefer young entrepreneurs despite aged ones having rich corporate experience or other skills

• E.g., Sachin Bansal, Binny Bansal, Bhavish Aggarwal, Ritesh Agarwal,etc. all starting their ventures In their 20s.
• Stereotypes associated: Older employees are disengaged from their work, not interested in training and development, rigid and inflexible, technology averse, and always in the entitled mode because of seniority and past conquests.
• But such traits can apply to people at any age.

• Progression of bias: Employees get labelled as “old” in their 30s and as age proceeds job opportunities significantly deplete and finally are left with little alternative jobs in their 60s.

Success stories :

• Seventy-seven-year old Ashok Soota’s Happiest Minds initial public offering, oversubscribed 150 times last week
• Prime minister Modi, Mukesh Ambani, Anand Mahindra, Nandan Nilekani, K.V.Kamath, are proving the age-bias wrong.

Conclusion:  Though age is a significant factor, it is not the only factor with which a person’s potential must be judged. Every person has to be valued on the basis of the skills, experience and his/her enthusiasm towards a particular thing.