The vast majority of Canadian workers believe their workplaces are biased against older workers, and half are so worried they would even resort to cosmetic or dental surgery if it meant not losing out to a younger rival.
The poll by recruitment website Monster found nearly eight out of 10 believed there was age discrimination in their workplace to a greater or lesser degree.
Nearly two thirds considered age bias "obviously" to be a factor when candidates were considered for job openings.
And nearly a fifth (17 per cent) felt their employer preferred workers "in a certain age bracket".
In fact, just slightly more (19 per cent) of the 2,133 Canadians polled believed "people of all ages" were considered for job openings in their workplace.
At the same time, in a separate poll of nearly 4,400 people carried out by the website, nearly half said they definitely believed plastic surgery or cosmetic dental work would help advance their career.
Slightly more than a third disagreed and 14 per cent were unsure.
"Today many Canadian employers are looking to help ease the labour shortage," said Gabriel Bouchard, vice president and general manager for Monster Canada.
"And while employers are looking for new ways to keep baby boomers in the workplace, it is interesting to note that many Canadians feel some kind of age bias at work, with a person's age being viewed as a factor in their employability," he added.
"As our workforce continues to age, it will be interesting to see how attitudes change to perhaps favour older workers for their skills and experience," he added.
