{"id":13747,"date":"2022-08-12T09:38:12","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T23:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.emotedigital.com.au\/?p=13747"},"modified":"2022-08-12T09:48:41","modified_gmt":"2022-08-11T23:48:41","slug":"international-youth-day-2022-focus-on-inclusive-workplaces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/international-youth-day-2022-focus-on-inclusive-workplaces\/","title":{"rendered":"International Youth Day 2022: Focus On Inclusive Workplaces"},"content":{"rendered":"

It probably goes without saying, but we\u2019re huge fans of young people in the workplace.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not only do we know they make teams more progressive, innovative, creative and open to new ideas – but there\u2019s nothing better than giving young people their first chance to make a mark and learn about the wide world of work.<\/p>\n

This is why it\u2019s been pretty disheartening to read reports<\/a> that during and following the COVID-19 lockdowns, young people were among the most significantly impacted groups in the workplace.<\/p>\n

This International Youth Day calls for better awareness around the intergenerational make-up of our workplaces and how we must do more to ensure young people feel welcomed, supported and guided to progress in their careers – pandemic or no pandemic.<\/p>\n

What is International Youth Day?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

International Youth Day<\/a> is celebrated annually on the 12th of August. Each year, the day focuses on a different theme that\u2019s relevant and timely around the issues young people face in the world.<\/p>\n

The day aims to raise global awareness of these issues so that other organisations and support bodies can work to make improvements for the lives of all young people.<\/p>\n

International Youth Day was first proposed in 1991 by young people gathered in Vienna, Austria, for the first session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System. It wasn\u2019t until 1998 that the day was officially adopted by the first session of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The theme for 2022 is Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is Ageism?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

According to the United Nations<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cAgeism is an insidious and often an unaddressed issue in health, human rights and development, and bears on both older and younger populations worldwide. In addition, ageism regularly intersects with other forms of bias (such as racism and sexism). It impacts people in ways that prevent them from reaching their full potential and comprehensively contributing to their community.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

International Youth Day addresses how young people are left behind, ignored, or prevented from accessing areas of society – including the workplace – simply because of their age.<\/p>\n

Young People & Ageism: What\u2019s Happening?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Young people continue to report<\/a> age-related barriers in various spheres of their lives, such as employment, political participation, health and justice.<\/p>\n

Some research<\/a> is even reporting that it\u2019s the youngest team members bearing the brunt of workplace ageism right now, potentially impacting their careers. But ageism goes beyond just your career progression; it can also knock your confidence, motivation and willingness to show up in your total capacity and potential in the workplace.<\/p>\n

Solidarity across generations is critical more than ever as we approach the workplace with a \u2018build back better\u2019 motto following the lockdown and losses of the pandemic. Everyone – no matter their age – has a lot to offer in the world of work right now.<\/p>\n

What to Do if You Experience Ageism in the Workplace<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Hopefully, it\u2019s not something you\u2019ll ever have to deal with directly, but it\u2019s common to hear the odd comment or two as a new young person in the workplace.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to know where you stand and what you can do to address this if it does happen so that it doesn\u2019t end up escalating into a larger conflict<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here are our top tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Know your rights.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

In the workplace, there are things called protected characteristics<\/a>. You cannot be discriminated against these things in the workplace, as they have no bearing on your ability to do your job or learn new aspects of a new role. One protected characteristic is your age.<\/p>\n

If someone says anything about your age negatively, whether at an interview or in the workplace, you should report it to HR where appropriate. If it makes you feel bad, know that it is not okay.<\/p>\n

2. Politely ask them what they mean by that.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

We know people will often say things in jest, and making comments about someone\u2019s age – whether younger or older – is easy to target. There\u2019s nothing wrong with having a laugh at work, but it shouldn\u2019t be at someone else\u2019s expense and shouldn\u2019t make you feel uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

If someone does make a joke about your age, and you don\u2019t like it, calmly ask them what they mean by it. A lot of the time, the person will feel embarrassed and realise the joke isn\u2019t okay to say. Make it clear you don\u2019t enjoy those types of jokes and politely ask them not to make them anymore.<\/p>\n

3. Remember: you wouldn\u2019t be there if you couldn\u2019t do the job.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

It can be easy to forget if you\u2019ve got other team members poking fun at your age or making rude remarks about your experience, but the truth is you wouldn\u2019t have the job if your employer didn\u2019t think you could do it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s completely normal to be learning new skills as you go, and of course, someone who has been there longer is going to know more. Don\u2019t let this get you down, and stay focused on working on your skills so you can be the best at your role – your employer already knows you will be.<\/p>\n

4. Get support if needed.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Don\u2019t handle ageism in the workplace alone if it\u2019s getting too much or upsetting you. Remember, just because someone says they didn\u2019t mean anything by a joke or comment doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s okay. If it causes you to worry or feel upset, then it needs to be addressed.<\/p>\n

Get help from a trusted team member, or speak with HR or your boss to let them know what\u2019s happening so they can help you resolve things.<\/p>\n

Addressing the Issue Together<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard the expression \u201cneed experience to get a job, need a job to get experience\u201d <\/em>– it\u2019s that circular problem that so many young people face when trying to break into the workplace for the first time.<\/p>\n

At Explore Careers, we have no time for this type of outdated thinking.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s why we push our employer partners<\/a> to stay open-minded, engaged and curious bout EVERY young person\u2019s potential that applies to their business.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s why we only partner with employers who wholeheartedly embrace this mindset.<\/p>\n

Look out for the inclusion and diversity badges that our employers proudly showcase on their profiles to help you get a clearer idea of the inclusive practices they are actively promoting.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve got your back this International Youth Day – and every day.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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