Is using the phrase”OK boomer” in the workplace inappropriate and a sign of ageism?

Many internet debates over the “OK boomer” phrase revolve around whether the expression is offensive or not. But that is not the primary concern when it comes to the workplace. The bigger problem is that the insult is age-related. A federal statute protects workers above 40, called the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which prevents harassment and discrimination based on age. Remarks related to a worker’s generation are a problem because older workers often suffer adverse employment decisions, such as layoffs or being passed over for promotion. One way to explore if a decision is infected by age discrimination is the surrounding circumstances: comments and behaviour by managers and coworkers.
If a manager said “OK boomer” to an older worker, they seem biased. Even if they tolerate a joke made by an employee and not themselves, it would seem the boss is in on it too. Using the “OK boomer” phrase one time does not legally pass as harassing behaviour. But repeated comments about someone’s age – for example, calling someone “old” and “slow,” “old fart,” or even “pops” – can mean harassment over time, and companies risk age-based harassment claims if they continue with this kind of language.