In some regions, age discrimination is prohibited in recruitment. While this move offers certain drawbacks to businesses, I believe that this measure brings more benefits to society.
On the one hand, restricting companies’ autonomy in the recruiting process can negatively affect their hiring strategy, thus hindering their performance. First, companies tend to make decisions based on their specific needs, as a shortlist of appropriate ones would promote efficiency in the employment procedure. For example, in the Marketing or Informational Technology field, younger employees tend to be more favorable due to their adaptability to cutting-edge technology and fast-changing trends. Additionally, being forced to hire an older applicant would raise performance concerns as they might not be capable of handling such unsuitable tasks, resulting in an increase in training costs for them.
However, I would contend that the reduction of age discrimination in the selection process would create a diversified work, as it contributes positively to societal development. The policy itself will promote equal employment chances for candidates, as the judge will be based on their experiences and abilities rather than their ages. This can combat age-related stereotypes, diversify the job market, and be beneficial for a myriad of workers, especially the dedicated elderly. Moreover, the measure can also enhance societal well-being. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a layoff surge due to firms’ inability to pay workers’ salaries. Until now, a number of employees are still suffering from joblessness due to age restrictions, hence, they have to rely on the government’s unemployment subsidy. Providing those pitiful workers the opportunities to rejoin the workforce might enhance their living conditions and alleviate the burden on the authorities.
In conclusion, while prohibiting companies from discarding applicants solely based on their ages might raise some concerns about the company’s performance, I believe that this movement has paved the way for societal development and workforce inclusivity.