Ageism in the workplace 工作場所的年齡歧視問題

據調查，在英國，年齡超過五十歲的工作者會因上瞭年紀而錯失工作和培訓機會。研究顯示，一些年齡較大的人甚至會為瞭找工作而謊報自己的年齡。

文字稿

The number of older people in the workplace – defined as aged 50 or over – is now at a record high of more than 10 million, but the opportunities available to them may not be matching their ambition.

英國對高齡工作者的定義是年齡在五十歲或以上，該群體人數現已創下歷史新高，達一千多萬人，但他們卻可能沒有足夠的機會來實現自己的志向。

This survey by the Centre for Ageing Better, found that one in seven workers aged over 50 believe they’ve been turned down for a job because of their age. One in three thought they’d been offered less training and that younger employees had benefitted more from structured career progression. And nearly a fifth had either hidden or considered hiding their true age in order to get a new job.

這項由英國老年扶助中心開展的調查發現，每七名年齡超過五十歲的工作者中就有一人曾因年齡大而失去瞭工作機會，每三人當中就有一人認為他們接受的培訓較少，而年輕職員們從系統化的職業發展制度中獲益更多。還有近二成的人會為瞭找到新工作而隱瞞或被認為隱瞞瞭其真實年齡。

With the employment rate at a near-record high, the report warns that businesses that disregard older workers could face a labour and skill shortage – as experienced staff depart, leaving too few younger candidates to replace them.

在就業率接近歷史最高水平的形勢下，該報告警示說，那些無視年長工作者的公司可能會面臨勞動力和技能短缺，因為富有經驗的員工離職後，可以接替其崗位的年輕候補人數太少。

1. 詞匯表

workplace 工作場所
a record high 歷史新高
matching 達到…比得上…
ambition 志向
turned down 被拒絕
structured 精心安排的，系統化的
career progression 職業發展
disregard 無視
skill shortage 技能短缺
candidates 候選人，候補

2. 閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。

1. What are people in the workplace aged 50 and over, defined as?

2. True or false? Some older people had started hiding rather than go out and find a new job.

3. Why did some older people feel younger employees had better opportunities for work?

4. What might occur if too many experienced staff leave the workplace?

3. 答案

1. What are people in the workplace aged 50 and over, defined as?
Older people in the workplace are defined as aged 50 or over.

2. True or false? Some older people had started hiding rather than going out and finding a new job.
False. The report found nearly a fifth of older workers had hidden or considered hiding – lying or not saying – their true age in order to get a new job.

3. Why did some older people feel younger employees had better opportunities for work?
Some older people thought younger employees had benefitted more from structured career progression and got more training.

4. What might occur if too many experienced staff leave the workplace?
The report suggested that if experienced staff left the workplace, there would be a labour and skills shortage as there would not be enough skilled younger people to replace them.