ageism against the young?

[paeducator]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania

I am a manager in a large organization and I believe I am the victim of ageist and sexist comments by the actual HR manager. I have an employee who I've been having a number of attendance issues with, and I discussed this with HR to start termination proceedings against. The HR manager who is new and unaware of previous issues thought that this employees attendance issues were related to her being a parent (they are not) and said to me "since you don't have children, you must not be able to manage people with children", she then went on to tell stories about her own management style since becoming a new mother. I expressed how offensive and inappropriate this comment was, and even filed a formal complaint, all which has fallen on deaf ears. If I were an older woman, or a man, this comment would have never been made to me.

Since reporting this, I am extremely uncomfortable working here, have been subjected to being ignored by upper management, and am finding this to be a very hostile work environment.

I love what I do, and prior to this loved my organization, but I cannot go on working under these conditions and for an organization that fosteres ageism and sexism. Is there anything that I can do?

Thanks

[Zigner]

Ageism?

Sexism?

I see neither in what you have posted. Why don't you explain what you're talking about.

[paeducator]

I believe it to be a sexist and ageist comment and assumption about my ability to manage because I am a young (under 30) female. I strongly believe that if I were a man, or an older woman such irrelevant and inappropriate comments would have never been uttered.

[paeducator]

Additionally, I have several years of management experience in my field and have always been effective manager with a reputation for success

[tranquility]

Both men and women can have children in the way the comment was meant, so it's not sexism. Unless you are prepubescent, you can have children, so it's not ageism. (Let alone there not being a reverse ageism claim available in any event.

Maybe you should listen to the stories of those who have had children and you might learn to not make a big deal over little things. You might try convincing others to your position rather than telling on them.

When I was young, I was eating with some friends who were my age but who had had children. We went out for pizza. As we were eating, one of the kids threw up on the table and some of it splattered on the pizza tray. UGH! I was done. I thought I might blorch myself. The parents, of course, just seperated the parts that took the hit and continued eating.

I realized then that even though I was around children all the time in the neighborhood and through coaching, I was not a parent.

[ecmst12]

Discrimination based on age is only illegal for people over 40. "Youthism" is legal.

[paeducator]

Telling on them? Blorch?

I'm sorry, I find it a bit difficult to take ther advice of someone who uses vomit analogies when discussing employment law. This is not about my effectiveness of managing people with children - I've been doing so successfully for over 7 years - it's about the inappropriateness of such a statement. The fact remains that this would not have been said to a man or older woman.

Reporting inappropriate behavior is not "telling on them", and "blorch" is not a word.

Thank you anyway.

[cbg]

The fact remains that under both Federal and PA law, it is not illegal discrimination if you are under 40. That is not a matter of opinion. That is legal fact.

[url=http://www.eeoc.gov/types/age.html]Age Discrimination[/url]

[url]http://www.phrc.state.pa.us/publications/literature/Age%2040%20READ.pdf[/url]

[commentator]

Reporting inappropriate comments or behavior ( in your eyes, if not in the eyes of the laws) on the part of your supervisor to your higher ups may not be anything really bad in and of itself. But telling yourself you cannot continue to work in a place where your complaint was ignored is silly. If you want to, you can of course quit, but I'd not spend a whole lot of time telling your new prospective employers how badly you were treated by this employer. Because what they were doing was ignoring you when you complained about something that basically is NOT illegal, or even terribly improper. They overlooked your raising of an issue that was not really an issue. You told your supervisor that you considered what she said inappropriate. That is about as far as it can legitimately go. To rage and be frustrated because no one higher up took your complaint seriously sounds...well...immature.

[cyjeff]

Have you ever been a man or an older woman?

Then don't tell us what would happen.

After all, the whole reason you are screaming is because someone told you how YOU were feeling.... because she actually HAD been a young, inexperienced female manager.

[tranquility]

Employment law? What part of your post has anything to do with employment law? Sure, you are employed and the law can have something to do with employment. But, I though I explained why your theory cannot be true. Was I wrong?

The real issue is your problem with management. Even new management. They think you're wrong. (As do most, if not all, here.) You want to see if you can sue. Sorry, while you can (If you go to the proper governmental agencies for permission.), you will lose. Period. Because those with more power than you don't support you does not make a legitimate suit.

Reread the story. Learn the wisdom. Listen to the story of your HR person and learn the wisdom there.

(Blorch means regurgitation or vomiting in case you could not understand that from the context in which it was used. I mean really, that's your complaint? I didn't use science-club words?)

[paeducator]

It's not about "new management" in that context. The person is not MY manager, and reporting what I deem to inappropriate behavior to the appropriate chain of command is neither "immature" nor unwarranted. But if giving your silly opinion mixed with made up words rather than the facts that I inquired about makes you feel better about yourself, you should have an awesome day today!

According to two of you, ageism applies for the 40 and over only. Thank you both for answering my question.

[eerelations]

Originally Posted by paeducator

According to two of you, ageism applies for the 40 and over only.

You may not like it, but it's the law - age discrimination is only illegal if it's directed towards people who are aged 40 or higher. Period. If you don't like us telling you this, then feel free to pay an attorney to tell you exactly the same thing.

[pattytx]

Methinks the poster has a little growing up to do.

[>Charlotte<]

Also, "blorch" is not an analogy. It's an onomatopoeia.

I'm just sayin'...