4 ms·

Serious question: why are senior discounts not illegal then? Does anyone know? Quick Google search was unenlightening.

• DINKDINK 9y ago
  Not the answer to your question but just another data source: Courts have barred companies from negatively discriminating against older job applicants but not against younger job applicants for not being experienced enough. The best theory/argument I could come up with is: "The elderly or infirmed have reached the end of their productive capacity and even if they wanted to earn more money to afford something, they couldn't. Young people OTOH could." Conspiratorial theory: Judges are older and power structures always chose laws that favor the power structure.
  • astura 9y ago
    I hate to be picky but this is not quite accurate. Absolutely nothing to do with judges. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, which was passed by Congress and signed by the President, is what prevents age discrimination against people over 40. According to the EEOC it does not apply to people under 40, so baring any local or state laws, employers are free to discriminate based on age for younger employees/applicants, not just for being inexperienced. In my experience, its not even an uncommon practice either, I've met a few employers who have had floor ages for their employees due to (perceived) immaturity in younger employees. As far as the reasoning, it's stated in the act itself: (a) The Congress hereby finds and declares that- (1) in the face of rising productivity and affluence, older workers find themselves disadvantaged in their efforts to retain employment, and especially to regain employment when displaced from jobs; (2) the setting of arbitrary age limits regardless of potential for job performance has become a common practice, and certain otherwise desirable practices may work to the disadvantage of older persons; (3) the incidence of unemployment, especially long-term unemployment with resultant deterioration of skill, morale, and employer acceptability is, relative to the younger ages, high among older workers; their numbers are great and growing; and their employment problems grave; (4) the existence in industries affecting commerce, of arbitrary discrimination in employment because of age, burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in commerce. (b) It is therefore the purpose of this chapter to promote employment of older persons based on their ability rather than age; to prohibit arbitrary age discrimination in employment; to help employers and workers find ways of meeting problems arising from the impact of age on employment.
    • DINKDINK 9y ago
      Thanks for including that. I had forget about that the act. My point still follows, power structures will always write laws that favor them over others.
  • mnm1 9y ago
    It's not discrimination to not hire people who are inexperienced. That's called running a business properly. It is discrimination to not hire based on age, any age, but only older workers over 40 are provided protection under U.S.law.