“You’re Too Entitled and Lazy To Work Here!” (Hint: What is Youngism?)
Gen Z folks may recognize these labels, and Millennials may recognize the generational insult that they “spend too much on lattes and avocado toast.”
But beyond just labels and insults is the phenomenon which has been called “youngism,” discussed in an interesting article from the UK. The article states that:
“As recent research shows, ‘youngism’ can come from a combination of stereotyping of life stage and generation. For many, the gen Z label has become an easy catchall for accusations of generational laziness and entitlement, repeated without justification in a way that wouldn’t be tolerated around any other protected characteristic.”
In the United States, age discrimination laws are primarily focused on protecting older workers from being discriminated against due to their age. For example, the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older. And laws protecting against discrimination for being too young are few and far between, and generally limited to people over 18.
So let’s see what age discrimination looks like with younger people.
The UK article cites to the experience of a 22-year old man recently elected to Parliament – “accusations from older colleagues that [he] lack[s] the necessary experience for the role.” A 20-year-old MP elected in 2018 noted “some of the insults she had received during her time in office, including rape threats. Being asked about her age was a source of constant frustration and distraction from her work. She stepped down from office in 2024.”
Sounds as bad as what is known as ageism.
The article notes that “Research suggests age discrimination is u-shaped, with older and younger workers suffering the most,” and mentions a trade union cite - Unison - which “highlight[s] the impacts of age discrimination on young people, from being belittled in workplaces to being bypassed for promotion and paid poor wages.”
Finally, the UK piece has several tips for young people as to how to deal with age stereotypes at work.
Takeaway:
Age discrimination and harassment in the workplace is not limited to older people. If even only a few jurisdictions prohibit “youngism,” at least for those over 18, you can be sure that with the surge of younger workers entering the workforce, and with a growing activism among the younger generations, you will see more and more places passing such laws. Employers should prepare by treating younger employees with the same degree of attention to age discrimination laws as that which they treat older employees.