I’m 58 years old and recently lost my job. Most employers only accept job applications online and disregard my resume because of my age. What should I do?
It may not sound pleasant, but you can do little to change the situation. As a general rule, businesses cannot consider an applicant’s age while making hiring choices. It is illegal to discriminate in hiring on the grounds of age against job applicants over the age of forty, under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
Like other types of employment discrimination, the issue is that facts and evidence must back accusations of ageism. When submitting a job application via an online portal, it might be challenging to track down specific reasons why an applicant got rejected for a position. If you suspect ageism, calling the company may be your best course of action.
The court will ask for direct proof of age discrimination if they admit they rejected your application because of your age. But the thing is, very few company owners are willing to accept they violated federal laws. However, If you come across any proof of discrimination in your workplace, you should ask an employment law attorney for help.