Reflections, Reflections

Ran across this post and I totally agree. If there's a case about race discrimination, people are up in arms. Gender discrimination, it's a scandal (Summers anyone?) Homo discrimination, and it's the evil hate-filled ones trampling on sacred rights. But age? No big deal.

My experience is that it kicks in at 40 and really starts with a vengeance at around 45.

[...]

There are many of us who are north of 40 (I will turn 50 this year) who still work long hours, work hard, keep up with new technologies as required by our jobs, and are just as valuable employees as anyone else. But when we get laid off, most of us can't find work at anywhere near the same level. No one wants to hire a 50-year-old or a 60-year-old when for far less money they can get a 23-year-old who they can delude themselves will stay for 30 years.

Not to mention that many such 40+ people have families to support, or they just need to work decently and honestly to support themselves. Not everyone turns out to be Bill Gates by the time they are 40. I know a lot of people who went through appalling hardship because of age discrimination and the very prolonged unemployment that resulted from it.

With the continued and considerable growth of the population that are aged 40+, age discrimination spells disaster.

related entries: problems with job interviews, answers in job interviews.
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