Age discrimination in the workplace is a cause for concern among Argentina's unemployed.
For most, turning 40 is a great milestone in one’s career. You’ve got at least fifteen years of solid work experience with multiple employers, you’ve developed a rich network of contacts in your industry, and you’re well positioned to achieve even greater success over the next twenty years. With such a wealth of real world experience and industry savvy, any employer would be lucky to have you. Unfortunately for many workers in Argentina, turning 40 isn’t a jovial rite of passage. In fact, in a society that covets the beauty and virility of youth, it’s something akin to a death sentence for those seeking employment. When he recently started looking for a new job, Buenos Aires computer programmer Roberto Matera met a wall of age discrimination. He was rejected repeatedly for being over 40 by several companies who aren’t shy about their totally archaic “No Hires Over 40″ policy. Undeterred, Matera launched E+40, an employment website for Argentine workers over 40. It turns out Roberto wasn’t alone. In less than a year almost 6,000 job seekers have joined E+40, and more than 70 employers post openings in industries ranging from IT to Finance to Design. What began as a personal protest against corporate ageism has blossomed into a thriving website and social network movement. To date, over 43,000 Argentines have joined the facebook group opposing age discrimination in the workplace. (Full Story)
