Older workers, stereotypes, and discrimination in the context of the employment relationship

Abstract

Age biases could pose challenges to developing and maintaining a successful employment relationship. This chapter reviews theoretical and empirical work on age bias in the workplace (including stereotypes, affect, and discrimination) and utilizes examples of two very different older workers at one hypothetical organization to demonstrate the various ways age biases could impact the employment relationship over time, and in turn how the employment relationship might create conditions that create or hinder age biases. Ideas for future research directly investigating the interplay of age bias and the employment relationship are suggested. An essential message woven throughout the chapter is that we must remember that not all older employees are alike.