Ageism

Ageism is rampant. My current concern is in the job market and I was very surprised to find that ageism has become almost a standard. I recall discussions with my colleagues of similar age to mine that most companies "just want someone who can do the work." Maybe at one time that was true; it's not any longer.

Apparently, 50 years is the drop-dead age. Really. I've heard it from others. It takes longer and longer to secure a job regardless of someone's experience once the age of 50 pops up.

I understand some companies - or, to be fair the people who do the hiring for those companies - feel that anyone 50 or older has missed out on technology (for one thing). Do they realize that people 50 and over adapted to technological advances? They were on the job and learning. Some of them went back to school to update their knowledge and skills. None of us are irrelevant, except to many in younger age groups. The Millennials seem to have special difficulty acknowledging those over 50 as knowing anything at all. Or, some may fear us taking their jobs because of our experience.

Of course, filing a claim with the EEOC is one way to protest, but we really just want to work and be treated with some measure of respect. No wonder the "Gray Panthers" organization was born.

While Ageism in the workplace is obvious, it also appears in other settings when one would least expect it. Simply being friendly to someone under 50 apparently strikes fear in the hearts of those much younger, as if they might catch "old."

I'm not an expert on possible solutions to the problem of Ageism, but attitudes need to be adjusted. Younger generations could learn so much about work life, if they would take time to be mentored. There is so much they don't know, but they don't know that.