Nearly one quarter of older Maine voters report that they (or someone they know) has experienced age discrimination in the workplace. That’s one of the key findings in a Maine public opinion report commissioned by AARP in Maine. The survey, conducted in May, sampled 400 Maine voters over the age of 50 from all around the state. 8 out of 10 said it is important for Congress to take action and restore workplace protection against age discrimination.
In 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that workers filing suit must prove that age was the decisive factor in how they were treated in the workplace, instead of just one factor. That made it much more difficult to prove age discrimination. The unemployment rate for older workers has soared, and unemployed older workers find it more difficult to get a job and experience much longer periods of unemployment than younger workers.
In the Maine survey, 77% strongly agreed that most Americans 50+ are having to postpone retirement and work long. In fact, more than 70% were unsure of their ability to retire.And nearly 20% of retirees felt they might need to return to work.
More than half (55%) were very concerned that age would be an obstacle if they had to find a new job.
When asked, “Making it more difficult for victims of age discrimination to prove their case makes it easier for employers to replace older workers who have higher salaries with younger people at lower wages” more than half the people surveyed strongly agreed. They also favored legislation called Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, which would restoreworkplace protection for older employees.
Feel free to look at the AAR’s ME Public Opinion Report and tell your representative what you think should be done about age discrimination!