Young employees in India face more ageism than other age groups
- Champa Ha
- Topics: Employee Experience, Home Page - News, India, News, Talent Management
Ageism in the workplace? It happens more often than you think, but in contrast to the usual narrative, data from a new study has shown that age discrimination affects younger employees more than older ones in India.
This is according to a new study released by Randstad India, Beyond Numbers: Intergenerational Insights on Ageism, which found 31% of respondents report having either experienced or witnessed ageism at work. In a survey that saw almost 1,000 respondents across different industries and age groups, the data suggested that younger employees in India saw more age discrimination than older employees due to a lack of trust in their abilities and skills. Older employees, in contrast, saw more respect due to age and seniority.
Female employees are more likely to experience or witness ageism in the workforce, with 42% of women compared to 37% of men. 41% of employees from multinational corporations (MNCs) also reported more instances of ageism than other types of organisations. This contrasts with the 29% of respondents in MNCs outside of India who experienced ageism.
The impact of ageism extends to workplace inclusion, with 80% of all respondents feeling they can be their authentic selves at work, but younger employees (under 35) report a lower sense of inclusion (73%) compared to their older counterparts (87%). 57% of respondents from MNCs have also reported leaving their roles due to ageism, compared to 38% from other organisation models.
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Commenting on the report, Viswanath PS, Managing Director and CEO of Randstad India, said that overcoming ageism required organisations to consciously recognise and challenge stereotypes to create an environment where experience and fresh perspectives are equally valued.
“By fostering an inclusive culture that embraces employees of all ages, organisations can harness the full potential of their workforce, driving collaboration, innovation, and growth,” he concluded.
