Opinion

Sachin Jain: Ageism in workspace goes all ways

Photo from Sachin Jain/LinkedIn

Aug 26, 2024, 17:23

Sachin Jain: Ageism in workspace goes all ways

Sachin Jain shared a post on LinkedIn:

“One of the most common (and least discussed) forms of implicit bias in the workplace is ageism.

And it goes, all ways:

1) There are long-tenured people who are vastly underestimated because of their age and experience.

2) There are long-tenured people who are actually ineffective but regarded as capable because of their experience and tenure.

3) There are talented early career individuals who are smart and energetic but wrongly regarded as incapable because of their inexperience.

4) And there are early career individuals whose capabilities are overestimated because of their energy and credentials. Stereotypes abound.

Enlightened employers are able to look beyond superficial qualities and match excellent people to roles in which they will succeed.

It’s incumbent upon all of us to recognize and challenge our own biases. Perhaps the best way to do so is to take some strategic chances.

Hire an early career person where you might ordinarily be inclined to hire someone more experienced. Hire a later career talent where you might ordinarily be inclined are inclined to hire someone more junior.

The results may surprise you and help you move beyond your implicit biases (we all have them).”

Source: Sachin Jain/LinkedIn

Sachin Jain is the President and CEO of SCAN Group and Health Plan and an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. He also serves as a Board Member at The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, an Academic Hospitalist (WOC) at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and a Board Member at America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). He is also a board member of Omada Health.