In some countries, it is illegal for employers to reject the applying for jobs because of his/her age. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
Favorable
Now the elderly, or young people do not have to struggle to earn a livelihood and support their life
Where senior citizens will not face mental hardships, the young will not have to take to crime.
The aged will not feel abandoned, and the young will be able to gain requisite experience and a chance to develop their skills
Companies instead of focusing on age are prioritizing experience
This can save companies and country more money otherwise spent on training freshers
Detrimental
Companies will be forced to select even those who are unfit or less skilled for a specific job
Create unemployment among more talented people and deprive society of chances to harness the real talent
This might organizations financially as the overaged people might require extensive medical support, while inexperienced young people might cause accidents and damage to equipment
It has become a common practice in some parts of the world to forbid businesses from turning down job applicants on the basis of their age. While some believe that this is a favorable evolution, others think that it is detrimental.
Some believe that this will help the elderly, as well as the youth alike since on one hand, the former can find employment even when they are retired, or nearing their retirement age and support themselves financially by earning money and not depending on government grants. On the other hand, youngsters looking for their first jobs do not have to struggle and rely on their family resources, and become independent as soon as they finish their graduation.
Besides this, this policy is also likely to keep senior citizens away from several health issues, mainly mental, because remaining idle, and not being able to get enough money is known to create numerous psychological disorders, affecting their well-being adversely. Similarly, the youth can also be prevented from committing crimes or resorting to drug abuse.
However, some sections are quite critical about this arrangement because they feel this is an injustice towards companies. Every employment giving agency selects workers according to their requirement that is based on the complexity, intensity, and efforts required for work, and if they are prevented from exercising this right, they will be forced to shortlist even those unfit for the job, mentally or physically. Consequently, their productivity might be hampered, impacting their operations, and resulting in losses.
In hindsight, disputes aside, there may be some drawbacks of this system, but they are rare as applicants apply for only those positions about which they are sure what they can perform. Nevertheless, this will stop age-based discrimination and allow one to use their skills.
