After 26 years of service at Quest Diagnostics, Theresa Seibert was fired at age 52. Theresa, having spent almost half of her life employed under Quest Diagnostics, had her sales territory changed when the company changed management. Under the new circumstances of her job, it was “nearly impossible” for Theresa to meet sales quotas. She was fired for “poor performance” and did not receive a severance package.

Seibert’s treatment reflects a national disinterest in elderly Americans. This trend, called ageisms, has manifested in aspects like medicine, where geriatric doctors are a rare commodity. In addition, almost 30,000 charges of age-based discrimination were brought before the EEOC in 2016.

As in the instance of most other types of discrimination, awareness is key. Recognizing and speaking out against ageism can help institute a cultural shift away from the biases that translate into discrimination in the workplace.