The Retired Renegade

Discrimination is a barrier to hiring older or retired people

Ageism is defined as a manifestation of discrimination towards a person because of his age. Employers that do ageism prefer for example to hire a young person without experience than a more competent older worker.

Laws were instituted to protect individual against all form of discrimination. But rules it seems are made to get round of. To uncover such behaviors and to assure that yourself are not guilty of ageism,

you must learn to recognize the legends, attitudes and prejudices that characterize this form of discrimination.

Legends, an Attitudes or Prejudices

Here are 10 statements, reasons not to hire older people. Call them legends, attitudes or prejudices.

1. Those that work at the top of the hierarchy think less of retirement than those that are at the base
2. As they grow older, employees only think of retiring. As soon as they can receive a pension cheque,  they lose interest in working.
3. Older employees are slower and less productive than their younger colleagues.
4. Customers prefer being served by younger employees.
5. Older workers are not open to change, they resist and prove to be less flexible.
6. Because of their delicate health, mature workers show a higher rate of absenteeism than younger workers.
7. Older employees are slow learners and they costs more to train.
8. It’s harder to work with older employees, they are difficult to live with.
9. Older employees are unable to adapt to new technologies.
10. Generally young and dynamic companies don’t like to be tied down by older workers.

What does this mean

Do these statements discourage or motivate you ? Do you think that if you were an employer you would prefer younger employees ? Let’s go back a take a look at each statement.

Those that work at the top of the hierarchy think less of retirement than those that are at the base

Statistically this statement is true. There seems to be a correlation between the control a person has on his job and his desire not to leave his job. Now, it’s at the top of the hierarchy that workers can decide of their schedule, of the way they will do their work and the orientations that would benefit the organisation. This type job is very gratifying and difficult to leave. Because we all need to feel that we master our destiny

On the opposite, the jobs that are at the base of the pyramid are supervised and more repetitive. It is rare, for example, that an employee working on a production line would chose his schedule. This lack of freedom of action will eventually carry weight, and have him dream of his retirement and the moment that he  will control his life. Its not that he wants to leave his job; he simply is looking to better control his life.

Employers that read this should take note of this realty: Give more latitude to your employees and they will be more loyal

As they grow older, employees only think of retiring. As soon as they can receive a pension cheque , they lose interest in working.

This statement is false. Those that are tempted to believe this probably don’t like there job and can’t believe that one would wish to stay on the job when its possible to do something else.

If you don’t like your job, the solution is not necessarily retirement. You could work elsewhere and you don’t have to wait to be in the sixties to do that

In fact many that are of age to retire absolutely don’t want to retire. They dread the moment where they will be told there not useful anymore. They need challenges to feel alive, they can’t imagine leaving there co-workers to find themselves alone at home.

Many workers need to continue working. Interest rate being at there lowest, their savings are low and Government pensions barely permit them to survive.

Here are a few strategies that will keep you from being a victim of this prejudice.

Mention to your employer that you want to stay in his service. If you don’t tell him, there’s a risk that he’ will go out looking for your replacement telling you that he’ll miss you a lot. If tell him that you want to stay, he might be relieved.

If you’re already retired and thinking of finding a job and getting back to work, talk about it. If you wait for a job to be offered to you while people suppose that you appreciate your retirement, you may wait a long time.

Get over the fears that are stopping you from returning to work.

(Part 2)