Requesting The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission And Executive Office On Aging To Study The Prevalence Of Age Discrimination In Hiring Applicants Over The Age Of Sixty.
The resolution aligns with federal protections established by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, which safeguards individuals forty years and older from discrimination. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for local measures, akin to those recently adopted in Connecticut, which prevent employers from requesting age-related information on initial job applications. By encouraging a focused study, the resolution aims to enhance protections for Hawaii's kupuna, ensuring they have equitable opportunities to participate in the workforce without facing ageism.
Senate Resolution 55 requests the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and the Executive Office on Aging to study the prevalence of age discrimination in hiring applicants over the age of sixty. The resolution acknowledges the ongoing challenges faced by older individuals in the workforce, particularly in light of federal and state civil rights legislation designed to protect them from discrimination. The aim is to better understand the barriers that older applicants encounter during the hiring process and to formulate strategies to mitigate such discrimination.
There is significant recognition of the difficulty in proving age discrimination, as much of it occurs prior to interview offers, making it challenging for candidates to demonstrate inequity. The discussions surrounding SR55 may also touch on differing opinions regarding the adequacy of existing legislation to protect older workers. Some advocates believe stronger local measures are necessary to ensure systemic changes, reducing barriers that hinder older individuals from re-entering the job market and suggesting that current laws may not suffice.
The resolution includes directives for the Commission and the Office on Aging to collaborate on actionable recommendations, aiming to present their findings to the Legislature in time for potential consideration in the upcoming regular session.