Laid off and over 50. Ouch. Ageism is tough

[Anonymous]

OP, it’s time to reskill and move if needed, just like the coal miners in WVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every person over 50 who has been laid off or fired at my company (not is not lot number wise, but it has been EVERY person) tries to claim ageism. It's never been ageism. We have documented the reasons, and employ people well into their 70s in some cases.

We've also fired off plenty of young people. We follow the same procedure no matter the age, and comply with all laws.

Unless you literally work in HR, you are full of crap and just being nasty. As someone who actually knows what happens in RIF, I can say that layoffs of older workers are justified because they often garner higher salaries but if you think that is the end of it, you are ignorant. The unemployment stats cited above do not include the many older workers who were not able to find other jobs once laid off and so are ‘retired’ or remain underemployed. Educate yourself. And btw you will be there soon enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are there these periodic random posts about ageism in this forum, that seem to be from the same person, with little detail about any actual case?

Right now, being an older worker is an advantage. It's young people who are having a hard time.

It’s hard to get your first job out of college, but after that it’s much easier in your 20s and 30s. 40s seems okay, but then 50+ is a bloodbath. I’m in my early thirties and regularly got interviews after I was laid off but I see former older colleagues 45+ really struggle on the job market. Six months emergency fund is not enough, I realized if you’re older, you need one year.

Exactly. 30s is the easiest time. 40s is tougher but still doable. 50s- very very hard and I have seen it over and over ‘she’s too experienced and won’t be happy in this role’.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are there these periodic random posts about ageism in this forum, that seem to be from the same person, with little detail about any actual case?

Right now, being an older worker is an advantage. It's young people who are having a hard time.

Clearly not the same person. This is a major issue in our workforce. This has never occurred to you? Medicare doesn’t kick in until 65 but corporate America doesn’t keep most workers around past mid 50s. And yes, there are exceptions but not that many. So there is a gap for the workforce. It’s a known issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think older workers need to consider moving to easier jobs and lower salaries. It’s not always a continuous upward path of improvement for a worker. Sometimes you’re not as good as you were twenty years ago.

Also your health costs rise sharply as you get older. A lot.

And sometimes you're not as amazing as you think you are at 28.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think older workers need to consider moving to easier jobs and lower salaries. It’s not always a continuous upward path of improvement for a worker. Sometimes you’re not as good as you were twenty years ago.

Also your health costs rise sharply as you get older. A lot.

Exactly this, and what I am preparing for. I am 47 and assuming at some point I will have to downshift. Holding on as long as I can, but at least debt free and on track to be mortgage-free (or able to be if I need to) within 5 years. Hopefully can hold out for 6-7 more years to get my kids all the way through college debt-free.
I actually love doing work like building, repairs, and carpentry. Maybe I’ll become a low-cost handyman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think older workers need to consider moving to easier jobs and lower salaries. It’s not always a continuous upward path of improvement for a worker. Sometimes you’re not as good as you were twenty years ago.

Also your health costs rise sharply as you get older. A lot.

Exactly this, and what I am preparing for. I am 47 and assuming at some point I will have to downshift. Holding on as long as I can, but at least debt free and on track to be mortgage-free (or able to be if I need to) within 5 years. Hopefully can hold out for 6-7 more years to get my kids all the way through college debt-free.
I actually love doing work like building, repairs, and carpentry. Maybe I’ll become a low-cost handyman.

Stop responding to yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think older workers need to consider moving to easier jobs and lower salaries. It’s not always a continuous upward path of improvement for a worker. Sometimes you’re not as good as you were twenty years ago.

Also your health costs rise sharply as you get older. A lot.

Exactly this, and what I am preparing for. I am 47 and assuming at some point I will have to downshift. Holding on as long as I can, but at least debt free and on track to be mortgage-free (or able to be if I need to) within 5 years. Hopefully can hold out for 6-7 more years to get my kids all the way through college debt-free.
I actually love doing work like building, repairs, and carpentry. Maybe I’ll become a low-cost handyman.

Stop responding to yourself.

???

[Anonymous]

Spouse laid off at 60, from a well paying job. Took 9 months, but was hired for a better job. Network, network, network.

The economy was better then (2018 maybe 2019), but my office has made 2 hires recently that we didn't even advertise. Because when you do post a job, you get over a thousand of candidates who don't come close to your qualifications, have no experience, and based on their resumes, didn't even look at the job, just clicked and submitted.

So my suggestion, based on spouses experience, is to tell everyone you know that you are looking. The parents on your kids sport team, at church, wherever you volunteer or are part of some group, because today, that is how you get a job

[Anonymous]

It took my 63 year old husband 7 months to find another job. It was stressful but worked out, a lateral move in terms of pay at least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 50-something partner just applied to apprentice as an electrician. He left his ivy-league graduate degree off his application and only listed his BS, without the year.

I don't believe you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It took my 63 year old husband 7 months to find another job. It was stressful but worked out, a lateral move in terms of pay at least.

Was he an executive level. That’s the only path for that age group.

[Anonymous]

This is why federal government is great, especially if you have relevant industry experience. I work with a lot of smart, experienced older folks who still managed to survive DOGE. They make SES level money and that has compounded for 30+ years.

The Fed’s are starting to hire again. It still has a lot more protections than the private sector.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why federal government is great, especially if you have relevant industry experience. I work with a lot of smart, experienced older folks who still managed to survive DOGE. They make SES level money and that has compounded for 30+ years.

The Fed’s are starting to hire again. It still has a lot more protections than the private sector.

Pay is too low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It took my 63 year old husband 7 months to find another job. It was stressful but worked out, a lateral move in terms of pay at least.

This is not typical at all. What field and level?