Is this indirectly ageist? (in a job advert)

[FuckingWonderwoman]

"This job is fully loaded and would suit someone with high energy levels."

I'm not the one being ageist here, Stuntgirl, I am the older person.

I have perfectly high energy levels, but the perception in my organisation is that anyone over the age of 45 is incapable of doing anything a bit, well, busy and demanding. I have seen this, I have evidence, and they are not taking any notice of what I am saying. I was just wondering whether this is yet another sign of indirect ageism.

I entirely agree that you would be unlikely to get this job over about the age of 30-35. I have seen ageism in play with my husband, 59, fit and active and looks young. No matter how we (without lying or being dishonest) rearrange his CV so that it is less clear how old he is, they are able to work out from his experience that he is older than 45 and he does not get jobs or second interviews. Even for jobs that he is completely capable of doing and would be excellent at.

This has been going on for over 18 months and it makes my blood boil. I suspect that some of the people interviewing my husband are worried about taking on someone who has so much experience and might make them feel a bit threatened. ALthough that is very far from being his style: he is a quiet team-player.

I think if it is a busy office, with a lot of work, long hours, lots of commitment needed, then its fair to ask for someone who doesnt want to snooze at their desk after lunchtime..

However I do find job adverts written by agencies to be rather ridiculously worded most of the time..

Um, if you're being paid to do a full time job, then of course you should work full time. I've never worked with anyone who wanted a nap after lunch. Regardless of their age.

edam - Grumpy admits no such thing. I suggest you READ my post again.

yes they're looking for a young male....

That advert says to me... "we'll make you work all the hours in the day and even when you go home we'll be calling and emailing you on the Blackberry will give you as a perk. You'll be given loads of shit tasks and told if you work hard you'll get more money and responsibility... but that will never actually happen"

The advert says to me 'you'll be working with people who think it's appropriate to use the words 'fully loaded' in an advertisement and that that gives a professional image of the organisation. They're probably 12 years old and scoot about the office on their skateboards with their trousers halfway to their knees. Run like the wind.'

On the face of it , it does not appear to be ageist. Afterall, one can be sixty with high energy levels . However, if you are older, you would be more likely
to have less energy, therefore it could be seen as indirectly discriminating against older applicants.
I personally think that it could possibly be regarded as Disability Discrimination
eg someone who suffers from depression is unlikely to apply for a job that requires high energy levels.

But do we need to have a problem with that? If someone can't do the job, should we just get rid of the job altogether, so no one anywhere feels left out?

Not at all ageist. My parents are in their 60's and would easily cope with a physical job. I'm 30 and would break at the first hurdle!

Why do people see ageism, sexism etc in everything they see and hear? FGS not everyone is discriminating.

The job is clearly physical but that doesn't mean an older person couldn't do it if they are physically fit and fast.

I think you are being over sensitive.

The use of the words 'fully loaded' is ridiculous and means nothing except the person who wrote the ad is a twat. But stating that the job would 'suit someone with high energy levels' is absolutely fine, if in fact the job would suit someone with high energy levels.

Employers should be allowed to employ the type of people they think will be best for the job they have on offer.

Fully loaded? Are they recruiting for a Nerf gun?
I don't even understand what that means. Do they mean busy?

I don't think its indirectly discriminatory unless you could prove that the pool of high energy younger potential employees was smaller than the pool of high energy lower employees. Its unquantifiable, so no.

As for "fully loaded" - what on earth does that mean? Is it indirectly discriminatory against non-twats who lack the ability to twat-speak?

Isn't fully loaded a box meal at kfc?...

ilove thank you! I knew I had heard the phrase in conjunction with something. Food. Fully loaded with all the trimmings. This job involves not only coleslaw, but beans too.

I can do coleslaw, but not with beans...

Thank you for your comments - v helpful. I do have high energy levels, but don't necessarily want to channel them all into this job, which I think I would be required to do...

FFS if they need someone with high energy levels then they should be ble to say so

But I really don't see why high energy levels should be a requirement for an office job.

You still need energy. One of my jobs is a desk job and it can get intense. Some couldn't do it.

To be fair, a lot of our senior managers run around like headless chickens so I suppose they would need quite high energy levels.

Makes me think of young, trendy office- make something media or design related, or high volume cold calling!

As far as I understand it, it isn't illegal to discriminate against people on the grounds of age which is why so many companies do it.

But is it illegal to discriminate against baked beans? Will no-one think of the beans!