(cont)

“Why did you leave your previous employer”, was yet another’s company’s query.
“Well, company policy is to lay off contractors, casuals and part-timers before the holiday period starts”, Ross explains for the hundredth time most weary.
“Oh how dreadful to do that this time of year, Sir, I am so sorry, they booted you out on your ear. However, do come along to an interview, join the other 20 young candidates, do not be disillusioned and do not fear”.

A phone call comes through after Ross hangs up the phone
“Darling, how did you go all day”, asked his loving wife Joan.
“No, Sweetheart, age is against me, now how the heck are we to pay off our loan?”.
“Ross, we’ve weathered hard times before, when you were injured and sore,
And plenty of times with selfish, thoughtless uncaring employers, who showed you and others the door”.
“I’ll just have to take something different and lower in pay,
Seems these days are no different to twenty years ago, stuff our taxes going to workplace reforms, an employee never did have any rights not now nor any time before”.

[Correct thread this time!]

Everyone opposed to age discrimination in this thread has assumed that mature people represent *extra* value for money as employees. You don't think it's a trifle arrogant to assume that everyone else in the world is wrong? That you know what's more beneficial for them, without knowing the circumstances, than they do for themselves?

If what you are saying is right, the solution is simple, and there's no need for any more laws. Graham, dkit, Stezza, Cheryl, just start up a business or businesses and employ the aged and mature people that *you* say are undervalued. If you are right, then the aged will gain employment, and you will gain the profit that comes from your entrepreneurial insight.

And if you are wrong, then you will suffer losses commensurate with your error in assuming that the aged and mature workers are actually under-appreciated and great value for money, and that is as it should be.

I support Peter Hume - great remarks!

What's disturbing is that so many are complaining about their loss of right to slavery. An older person should have enough savings to stand on their own two feet without begging, as well as the maturity to consume less. Too bad if one chose to dance all summer, then find in autumn that they are left with nothing.

It is not even true that there are no jobs for middle-aged people, just not the same jobs. As a rule of thumb, older people have better chances of getting work that is truly needed and less chances of getting an artificial job which the world could do without. Less money, but more feeling of being useful.

Hi-Tech for example, as mentioned in the article, is an area for the young anyway: regardless of your initial age, 5 years later into it you will be considered geriatric (but note that middle-aged people can still get a decent job in electronics, away from hi-tech's cutting-edge, for example programming a washing-machine). A middle-aged person should hardly expect to be a go-go dancer or movie-star either, but we could live just as well without hi-tech and without entertainment.

On the other extreme, there is an increasing demand for working with the elderly and a steady demand for working with children. Not as glamorous or paying, but something truly needed, as opposed to many vain jobs that contribute nothing real.

In another area mentioned, hospitality, it is true that older people will find it hard to work in shiny top-class restaurants, but they should have no problem finding a job where what's important is the decent food and service rather than the show.

People should appreciate and be proud of their age, rather than compare themselves to the young. As we grow older, we understand that it is no use for us to conquer the world, which we shall eventually leave anyway. We should gradually and peacefully start disengaging from it rather than knock desperately on its ephemeral doors. If employers remind us of this, they should be thanked.

There are are many forms of discrimination in the workforce but having been in the position of seeking work recently, for the first time I could see my age was a factor for some roles even though I am not quite fifty. Thankfully I am now gainfully employed part-time in the private sector, albeit at a lower pay than previously.

In some departments within the public service if you are older and not already in a senior role, older workers are seen as less malleable, less likely to accept the BS, more resistant to change and more likely to speak out against unethical or unfair behaviours. Probably because older workers, particularly if closer to retirement, are not seeking to climb the corporate ladder, so less likely to accept unethical practices. For some employers I think there is a perception because someone may not be ambitious that their work will be sub-standard, which is a furphy given work standard is more about one's work ethics.

The latter was feedback I used to get from some clients a few years ago, and often had to persuade them to at least interview an outstanding older candidate.

A mix of younger and older workers is a good thing, and usually works well for an astute employer with a mix of experience and maturity and the zeal and career aspirations of the younger set.

Unfortunately as we age we have no choice I guess but to suck it up and do our best to convince would-be employers that we 'oldies' are a good employment choice

One of the main problems for older people wanting a lower status, [or any] job is being tagged as over qualified.

The manager, doing the hiring can't imagine stepping down to a lower job, & has trouble seeing that some might want to. I have done it myself. I found it hard to believe the ex manager would be happy as a storeman, even if it did mean he could go home 3 hours earlier each day.

No one wants to put months into training someone up to useful, only to have them leave, shortly after.

When I wanted to step back a bit, I had to start a little home business. I then had to kick myself in the butt, regularly, to stop myself expanding it into something more time consuming, every time I saw an opportunity. Even after doing it myself, I would have had trouble hiring an ex bank manager as a roustabout, or delivery driver.

Hasbeen
Good point. I found that being overqualified was part of the problem. It is difficult to convince an employer that a work life balance becomes more important to some as they get older. I can see why an employer might hesitate to invest when there is that doubt - will the person be bored, will they move on, how will they cope with loss of status or lower income? All valid questions.

A with most things, it is sometimes about taking a punt, which is often an intuitive decision about the personal merits and claims of the applicant.