Ageism: a worsening epidemic

[eridani]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-ageism-20160106-story.html

This epidemic is ageism. I was hit with this form of age discrimination two years ago when I was 62. I had worked for a company through various sales and transformations for 38 years. After the last sale of our company, the purchaser studied us for a year and then dismissed many senior (both in age and tenure) employees. To this company's discredit, those dismissed were given six weeks' severance pay. One employee who had worked there for 32 years was dismissed for cause, stating that his work was not satisfactory, yet he had been exemplary for many years. Because of this he received no severance.

This behavior toward long standing employees is neither right nor fair. Yet employers can do this by hiding behind the now antiquated principle of "employee at will" — allowing workers to be dismissed without cause and giving the employee neither recourse nor the comfort of reasonable severance. This first form of ageism can be easily cured by legally eliminating the principle of employment at will in America; there is no similar concept in either Europe or Canada.

When individuals or companies will not behave in an ethical manner toward employees, it is up to government to impose laws that establish basic requirements for decency in such situations. These types of laws to protect employees exist in many other of our western allies.

Another form of ageism exists in the hiring process and may be much more difficult to control. I thought that I would surely find a job within six months of my termination. I have four degrees and am a seasoned manager. However, I soon discovered that companies do not want to hire a person who is 55 or older. Several of my friends are in similar situations.

[leftyladyfrommo]

1. It's not even 55. It's more like 40.

It's bad out there. I lost my job at 57 and had to live on my retirement savings until I could draw SS at 65. My savings are gone.

You just have to adjust to the new reality. I make e,travel monet pet and house sitting. It's not a lot but it helps pay the bills.

Fortunately I have a little house with $400 a month house payments. That helps.

[whatthehey]

2. Anecdotes again

Data:

The three lowest UE rates are the three highest age groups

http://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cpseea10.htm

Yes there are many 50s and 60s folks (I'm in the former group myself for age FWIW) who have difficulty finding jobs, but so are many teenagers through 40 somethings.

Most however are working, and that percentage of most peaks in the mid 50s and even over 60 is lower than the vast majority of other age ranges.

CAUTION: ANECDOTE I've been a hiring manager for well over 25 years, mostly hiring office staff in operations roles from entry level to director level. I've also been on many many joint hiring panels. Several companies ranging from under 50 people to Fortune 50. Never come across even an implicit let alone explicit age bias on either side of the interview desk for typical jobs (models, sure). I have hired several seniors but when I have been considering them and passed it has never been about age. Typically it has been a lack of willingness to handle change and learn new systems and processes, and general inflexibility. I've had candidates for sourcing jobs tell me they are unwilling to travel; candidates for global roles who can't work outside office hours; candidates for analyst roles who rate themselves beginner/unfamiliar with Excel and Access but don't want to pursue training, etc. By no means exclusively the older set, but more prevalent there in my experience. I wonder how many of them are grumbling about my age bias?

[KamaAina]

3. Unemployment rates only count people who are in the workforce

that is, who are actively looking for work. Many have retired, in come cases early.

[whatthehey]

4. And a greater percentage seniors are in the workforce now than previously

And are 96%+ in it successfully

Note that this chart measures those NOT in the labor force

[dembotoz]

5. i sell data pipies and am over 62

you gotta stay current you just have to

no choice

[eridani]

7. I imagine you'd feel differently if you were a roofer n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. Indeed. Good point.

[KentuckyWoman]

6. Oddly, I've found the opposite to be true.

I have 2 years of college back in the stone ages but no degree. I am in my 60's. Have never had an issue finding employment after 40 yr old. Being in small town Kentucky and being skilled and experienced with no degree made me inexpensive expertise.

Ageism isn't so much about age. It's about costs vs benefit. Workers who have kept current skills and understand the current and future landscape of their industry can demonstrate they will be a great bargain for the bucks..... Or they'll be able to create their own opportunities.

When people over 60 with multiple degrees say they've been out of work a long time I start looking for where their shortcomings are. 90% of the time it's a resume that does not fit the position they are applying for or skills that no long fit the marketplace.

Sales for instance. Brick and mortars are closing. Even wholesalers are turning more to the web and cutting out manufacturers reps. It has nothing to do with age. If someone in sales tells me they are stuck without a job then I have to wonder how good their marketing skills are. They are marketing themselves. They need to take a good hard look at where they fit and then sell the hell out of it..... and be wiling to start low in new type of career related to sales.

[Fumesucker]

8. It's got a lot to do with personality

A couple I know one works the other doesn't and hasn't for over a decade, they "can't get a job because their skills are out of date" but they are also a real social butterfly, talk, talk to everyone always. Well, the worker recently lost his job through no fault and quite literally within a couple of hours the same day the one who "can't get a job" had a job lined up for him via the social networking thing. I wasn't surprised they could do it but I was a bit put off by how blatant they were.