Final answer:
Age-related BFOQs may result in the loss of competent individuals but are necessary in certain jobs for safety or effectiveness. They are applied in a way that aims to minimize discrimination, but ageism can still impact perceptions of older individuals' capabilities. Sex-related BFOQs have strict criteria to prevent unjustified discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bona fide occupational qualifications (BFOQs) are legitimate reasons an employer might discriminate in hiring based on age, sex, religion, or national origin, in situations where such a characteristic is a necessary qualification for a job. An example of an age-related BFOQ would be the mandatory retirement ages for airline pilots, which exist for safety reasons. However, applying BFOQs in situations not genuinely required for the job can lead to the exclusion of highly capable and competent individuals.
Age-related BFOQs can lead to the loss of knowledgeable and skilled individuals upon their retirement, as seen in sectors impacted by the retirement of the baby boomer generation. False assumptions about the capabilities of older adults due to ageism can further this exclusion despite the contributions they are capable of making. On the contrary, sex-related BFOQs have stringent criteria that must be met in order to not be deemed discriminatory, ensuring that gender alone is not a barrier to employment unless it's essential for the job position, as evaluated by courts through tests such as 'all or substantially all' and 'the essence of the business.'