Older workers battling with discrimination
OLDER Australians face the greatest discrimination when applying for a job, according to the results of an international workplace survey.
The Kelly Global Workforce Index, undertaken by recruitment agency Kelly Services, surveyed about 70,000 people in 28 countries -- including about 2000 Australians. The survey found that 46 per cent of Australians believed they had been discriminated against when applying for a job in the past five years.
Respondents in New South Wales reported the highest level of discrimination (52 per cent), while those in Western Australia reported the lowest level (37 per cent).
Queenslanders reported the second-highest figure (46 per cent), followed by Victorians (45 per cent) and South Australians (42 per cent).
Twenty-five per cent of Australians said they had been discriminated against because of their age, with 9 per cent reporting gender-related and racial discrimination and 3 per cent reporting discrimination based on a disability.
Internationally, respondents in Sweden, Thailand and Singapore reported the highest levels of discrimination. Australia was ranked 16th on the list of 28 countries. Kelly Services Australian country manager James Bowmer said the survey results highlighted the changing nature of discrimination and the emergence of an epidemic of age-related discrimination. "Ageism has overtaken ethnicity and sexism in many areas as the greatest source of discrimination in employment,'' Mr Bowmer said.
He said many organisations were creating obstacles to the hiring of older Australians at a time when the country faced an ageing population and skills shortages and when people were being encouraged to stay in the workforce for longer.
"This can be devastating for individuals but it also means many organisations are shutting off an important source of talent and diversity,'' Mr Bowmer said. Of the people aged 45 or older, almost 48 per cent reported age-related discrimination. The issue also affected younger people, with 26 per cent of those aged up to 24 reporting such discrimination.
Gender discrimination when seeking employment was reported by 10 per cent of women and 7 per cent of men. People in industries including retail, engineering and information technology reported the highest levels of discrimination. The survey found that it was uncommon for those who felt discriminated against to pursue the matter and, when they did, most were dissatisfied with the result.
In addition to addressing discrimination during the job-application process, the survey also sought information about discrimination in daily working life. Almost 40 per cent of respondents reported experiencing that form of discrimination.
Overall, those without university qualifications reported higher rates of discrimination. Mr Bowmer said there were direct and indirect costs for organisations which failed to address those issues.
He said consequences included high staff turnover, absenteeism, poor morale, low productivity, poor reputation and the potential for civil claims and penalties if anti-discrimination laws were breached.
"It is critical that managers ensure that employees fully understand their rights and that managers faced with workplace discrimination take immediate steps to remedy the situation,'' Mr Bowmer said. "Employees will themselves be looking to see that instances of discrimination are handled decisively, sensitively and effectively,'' he said.
The Courier-Mail, November 11, 2006.
