Age Discrimination Widespread in Quintana Roo Workplaces

In Quintana Roo, two out of every ten workers feel they are discriminated against due to their age, particularly from the age of 41 and onwards. These individuals perceive that companies no longer view them as valuable, which hinders their career advancement opportunities.

The National Discrimination Survey reveals that the focus on physical agility and quick reflexes diminishes job prospects for individuals over the age of 45. This impacts their ability to secure jobs in large hotels, restaurants, and nautical services in Quintana Roo, which account for 42% of the region's employment. Many of these businesses overlook older applicants entirely.

Eliud, an employee at a five-star hotel in the Riviera Maya, shares that companies tend to favor younger employees who can work at a faster pace, clean more efficiently, and handle pressure more effectively. "In this industry, the speed at which you can serve drinks is more important than experience," he notes.

The "Trends of the Work Environment in Mexico 2024" report affirms that companies in the tourism sector primarily target young individuals aged between 22 and 30. They believe that these younger workers are better at managing work-related stress. Additionally, they are more likely to accept longer working hours, as they usually do not have family obligations.

However, in other parts of the country like Puebla and Nuevo Leon, age discrimination in the workplace is less pronounced. In these regions, workers are not considered "outdated" until they reach the age of 52, as experience is still highly valued in certain industries.