Page 20 - KZN Business Sense 3.6

KZN

KwaZulu-Natal
Business Chambers Council
AGE DISCRIMINATION IN SA INC.

Musa Makhunga, discrimination is so entrenched in are ageist ourselves without and medical advancement, people age discrimination is a tough
Managing Director - our society that it is normalised. realising it. Another reason why live longer. Perhaps it's time the thing to denitely prove, those
HR Matters (Pty) Ltd Once people proclaim that you are we are not able to see that government reviews retirement who fall victim to it oen have no
either too young or too old for this discriminating against people age laws. Having said that no law choice but to pick up and move
or that, we simply submit and based on age is wrong, is because prescribes the age at which people on in their search for employment.
accept even the most untenable of we haven’t seen legal challenges should no longer be allowed to It is a matter of time that society
situations, including decisions on this basis. At some point, work, except for retirement fund will start waking up to this form
aecting our ability to continue both racism and sexism were not rules which can be changed. of unenecessary discrimination
earning at the level at which we an issue, when people started especially as all of us are going to
are still capable. seeing companies being legally Maurice Backman writing in get old someday.
challenged based on our laws, the Motely Fool Newsletter
We ght racism, sexism, then society realised that maintains that according to I can’t help but notice when
homophobia, and many other discriminating on these bases was research from Boston College travelling abroad that on
social constructs, with such an injustice. While both racism (USA), unemployed workers aged television, in airports, hotels,
intensity that even the slightest and sexism have not been totally 55 and up are less likely to nd shops and in transport that older
AGE DISCRIMINATION IS suspicion of any of these eradicated from our workplaces, new jobs than unemployed employees are a norm compared
NORMALISED IN SA INC. prejudices would turn the world much has been done in terms of younger workers. Following the to our experience. In the context
2008-2009 recession, the average
of SA Inc. the more people realise
policies and practices, so that
upside down within a blink of an
DESPITE IT BEING AGAINST eye. On the other hand, ageism these issues are avoided at all length of unemployment for how prejudicial age based
HUMAN RIGHTS. which happens daily, goes costs. However, age bias in those 55 and up was 40.6 weeks, decisions are, the more this will
be challenged. Corporates, should
W hen I was at the starting Ashton Applewhite at TED 2017 and economic consequences younger job searchers. A 2012 be making competence-based
compared to just 31.6 weeks for
decisions with huge personal
unchallenged and unnoticed.
says ageism is discrimination and
study by the Urban Institute
continues without being seen as
decisions on continued
blocks of my career, I
can recall instances
with established talent pool
anytime someone thinks we are
experience, workers in their 50s
opposed to basing this on age both
when I was considered too young stereotyping we experience discrimination. For corporates, furthers this point: Despite their employment of individuals as
for certain roles, despite the skill too young or old for something, matrices, I would not be surprised are 20% less likely to nd new jobs on the grounds of our constitution
sets I either had or would acquire instead of nding out who we are if, where most people are slotted is than workers aged 25 to 34. While and an individual-to-individual
within a reasonable period. I and what we are capable of. She informed largely by age. getting retrenched is clearly never basis. Because people will always
also know that once I was at goes on to say this prejudice, like a good thing, it can be especially present unique capabilities,
managerial level, I was considered the others mentioned above, pits In many SA Inc. workplaces, detrimental to older workers and strengths and abilities treating
too old for future career growth us against each other to maintain once people are nearing their 50s, their long-term nancial health. them as individuals would benet
opportunities. is attitude the status quo. future job prospects become few organisations and society more.
prevailed even when I believed: and far between. Whereas people Backman further states that e blanket approach of letting
‘Eureka’ I’ve nally arrived at the Ageism in SA Inc. seems rife in now live easily to their 80s and many workers who get laid o in people go on the basis of age robs
‘right’ age. that in most of our cultures, the 90s, which makes longevity a their 50s (particularly their late our economy of experienced and
pecking order is age based. What reality, they get oered voluntary 50s) fall into a trap of sorts — capable people too readily.
Discriminating based on age people are capable of becomes and early retirement packages at they're not old enough or ready to
seems to be normal across South secondary to when someone was their prime, simply because they retire, yet companies don't want to at age discrimination is
Africa Inc., although this is born, to the extent that younger are considered old and labelled as invest in them, for fear of seeing dicult to prove does not make
against human rights. Such siblings are not expected to make less creative and innovative. It them leave aer just a few years. it less prejudicial and
discrimination is prohibited in pronouncements on matters could be that in the past, life According to Boston College's discriminatory.
terms of our constitution, unless it aecting families based on the expectancy was so low that people research, many older workers
can be proven that doing so is fair. accident of their birth. is had to retire between 55 and 65 point to age discrimination as a T: 083 251 6704
We haven’t seen legal challenges in attitude makes it dicult for most years of age. ese days with major deterrent to reemployment musa@hrmatters.co.za
www.hrmatters.co.za
this regard because age of us to be aware of ageism as we improved life styles, technology following reternchment. But since
THE TALKHOUSE CAFÉ
T he Talkhouse Café, situated have become accustomed to
receiving. Shane is oen to be
at the Westville Mall in
central Westville, is owner
(discussing his latest triathlon
managed by husband and wife found standing chatting at a table
team, Shane and Leanne Ellis. training or event), while checking
that the drinks and food are
As its name suggests, the served to his customers’ taste.
popular coee shop is a great place Leanne (a keen runner) is
to catch up with friends and responsible for some of the
family; refuel aer a session at the baking and makes sure that the
gym or even have a business administration side of the business
meeting. e airy terrace location runs smoothly.
makes for a relaxed atmosphere,
while, when required, blinds help Shane says that not being part of
to screen customers from the a franchise is a huge advantage to
ercer weather elements. A small the type of food that they are able
indoor section is also available if to oer. He enjoys keeping up to
preferred. date with current food trends and
oen tries out new recipes that he
e Talkhouse pride itself on has come across or has seen
the personalised service and demonstrated on television. is
delicious food that its customers approach ensures that the menu’s

BACK ROW, L - R: Ndumiso Mthalane, Shane Ellis, Mzi Mjaji, ami Ndlovu, abani Dlamini
SEATED, L - R: Ndumiso Ngcobo, Njabs Mbambo
oering is not static and that new part of the coee shop’s success placed second in Latte Art and
items can easily be incorporated and form a much-valued team. third in the Barista Championship
when desired. Consequently, e baristas pride themselves on and he will participate in the
whether you require a full cooked serving perfect cups of coee national event in February.
breakfast, a banting lunch or an and have attended training in
indulgent slice of cheesecake, Johannesburg. Ndumiso Ngcobo Says Business Sense publisher
there is certainly a meal to suit and amsanqa Ndlovu recently Grant Adlam, a frequent visitor,
your taste. participated in the 2017 SCASA “My opinion of a good coee shop
KZN Regional Barista Champs, is never based on the rst visit. It's
e Talkhouse sta, led by Latte Art and Cup Tasters the second, and third and... you
abani Dlamini, are an intrinsic competitions, where Ndumiso was get the dri.”

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