A staggering 40% of employees in India have either experienced or witnessed ageism at their workplace, according to a new study by Randstad India titled 'Beyond Numbers: Intergenerational Insights on Ageism'. The study, which surveyed nearly 1000 respondents, found that ageism is a pervasive yet often overlooked issue.
The data revealed some striking findings:
- 42% of employees aged below 55 years experienced or witnessed ageism, compared to only 29% of those above 55.
- Younger employees under 35 felt less valued, with just 51% agreeing their contribution was appreciated due to their age, versus 63% for those over 35.
- The sectors with the highest rates of reported ageism were Pharma, Healthcare & Life Sciences (43%), BPO/IT-enabled services (43%), and Construction/Infrastructure/Real Estate (41%).
- 27% said they are not fairly compensated due to their age, especially among the under 35 group (32%).
- 71% of respondents from Indian MNCs noticed age bias in job ads for their roles, far higher than 57% in other organizations.
"Overcoming ageism requires consciously recognising and challenging stereotypes to create an environment where all experiences are valued equally," said Viswanath PS, MD & CEO of Randstad India.
The study highlighted how ageism intersects with other forms of bias, as 42% of women reported experiencing or witnessing it versus 37% of men. Different demographic groups like those with disabilities also faced higher rates.
Meena Ganesh, Chairperson of Portea Medical, emphasised the need for intergenerational workforces, saying "Building teams mirroring customer age diversity is crucial for crucial consumer insights."