Age-related comments denigrating older workers can have an outsized negative impact on employee productivity and corporate profits, says Bob McCann, Associate Professor of Management Communication at the USC Marshall School of Business. “Our research has clearly shown links between ageist language and reported health outcomes as broad as reduced life satisfaction, lowered self-esteem, and even depression,” McCann says.

The researchers conducted a survey of age discrimination lawsuits which revealed hundreds of comments such as “the old woman,” “that old goat,” “too long on the job,” “old and tired,” and he is “an old fart” which were used against employers. Such language has become so common in age discrimination cases that some groups of ageist comment even have their own names, according to the study. “‘Young blood’ remarks are perhaps the best illustration, including such examples as: ‘We need young blood around here,’ ‘Let’s make room for some MBAs,’ or ‘Let’s bring in the young guns,’” say the researchers.

Age discrimination suits can lead to significant legal expenses; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recovered $51.5 million in monetary benefits for age discrimination charges in Fiscal Year 2006; and other costs from lawsuit settlements and judgments can run into the millions, according to the study.