According to the Federal Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Ferda Ataman, age discrimination is one of the “most underestimated discrimination phenomena” in Germany. “According to studies, almost as many people experience age discrimination as racial discrimination. That must give us food for thought when you consider how little we talk about age discrimination,” said Ataman of the German Press Agency.
Specifically, people would tell the anti-discrimination agency that they lost their jobs at the age of 50. “That they write hundreds of applications and then aren’t invited once for an interview, even though they are highly qualified. Or that they don’t get any further training on the job because employers say it’s no longer worth it,” said Ataman. “Elderly people also tell us that they can’t get credit, even if they are actually creditworthy.”
She wants to add the term “age” to Article 3 of the Basic Law. The article states that no one may be disadvantaged or preferred because of a disability, gender, descent, race, language, homeland and origin, belief, religious or political opinions.
Ataman also sees a need for action as a result of the ongoing digitization. “Digitization is far too rarely barrier-free. If I offer a telephone hotline, I have to be aware that not everyone hears well,” said Ataman. “Or if I’m running an online portal for doctor’s appointments, I have to realize that not everyone is experienced enough with it to be able to do it easily.”
Aging researchers: “The elderly are important market participants”
Aging researcher Hans-Werner Wahl warns of the negative effects of age discrimination on the economy. “We have an old working society. The elderly are important market participants,” said the lecturer at the University of Heidelberg to the German Press Agency. “What’s encouraging is that we have a time ahead of us where ageism is just bad for business. You don’t want to upset your clientele, you don’t want to put them in a corner unnecessarily.”
According to the researcher, age discrimination also occurs in the area of lending. “There are relatively fixed age limits, around 67, when it’s very difficult to get a loan. And at the same time knowing that many older people are financially well-positioned today, live a long time, and get a loan for a long time able to operate,” said Wahl.
