The scrap heap of life, - NOT yet
Wisdom comes with age, embrace it….
It is well recognised that the aging population is facing enormous challenges in the workplace as well as in healthcare some would call it a perfect storm for ageism.
Ageism is becoming more noticeable in the work place, we hear of those over 40 being taking off Television programmes and being replaced with younger people. This seems more prevalent with woman than with men.
Woman over the age of 50 often find it difficult to get employment even in positions that require a more mature caring attitude that comes with the experience of age. Companies would never admit to discriminating against the older candidate and use terms such as too qualified or we want someone we can train and this would mean a lower wage, or you would be bored as you are used to working in a busy environment. They may even advertise themselves as a young forward thinking company, which sadly doesn’t bond well for someone over 25. It should be mention however that are a minority of business who will look to employ someone with a ‘wise old head’
Hitherto ageism has consequences far beyond the workplace – for 78% of older people feel they have been victim of ageism, the experience of this underlying discrimination continues to scar people lives , and it isn’t limited to senior workers as ageism is now creeping into people in their thirties and undermining workers as young as 35.
Within organisations, older workers see themselves as targets for redundancy, feeling frustrated and resentful that their valuable skills are going to waste when they still have much to contribute to an employer.
Research uncovered a bleak picture. 65% of victims of ageism are not confident of getting another job, 83% believe they have been denied employment on the grounds of age, and 71% admit to being anxious about the future..
‘MaturityWorks’, the web recruitment service for older people, interviewed 150 people to investigate the social impact of workplace ageism. The objective was to give a voice to the actual victims of ageism. The average age of respondents was 53 (ages ranged from 34 to 67), 56% were male and 44% were
79% of respondents interviewed have been victims of ageism;
83% of the victims are frustrated as result of being rejected due to ageism, while 71% are anxious about the future
38% continue to resent the organisation which rejected them
53% believe their age has made them a target for redundancy
For 78%, the impact of discrimination on grounds of age has stayed with them, while only 4% say it’s had no impact
13% have experienced workplace ageism under age of 40, while 61% experienced it before they reached 50
In some instances, ageism is affecting workers under the age of 35
65% are not confident of securing another job
90% believe ‘experience’ is the most valuable skill they could still contribute to a workplace
Respondents also believe that ‘reliability’ (55%), ‘ideas and creativity’ (48%) and ‘enthusiasm’ (38%) are their valuable skills
For 71%, ageism has made an impact on their mental well-being, while 31% say it has affected their marriage, 62% say it has affected their social life and for 91% it has affected their wealth.
83% of the victims are frustrated as result of being rejected due to ageism, while 71% are anxious about the future
38% continue to resent the organisation which rejected them
53% believe their age has made them a target for redundancy
For 78%, the impact of discrimination on grounds of age has stayed with them, while only 4% say it’s had no impact
13% have experienced workplace ageism under age of 40, while 61% experienced it before they reached 50
In some instances, ageism is affecting workers under the age of 35
65% are not confident of securing another job
90% believe ‘experience’ is the most valuable skill they could still contribute to a workplace
Respondents also believe that ‘reliability’ (55%), ‘ideas and creativity’ (48%) and ‘enthusiasm’ (38%) are their valuable skills
For 71%, ageism has made an impact on their mental well-being, while 31% say it has affected their marriage, 62% say it has affected their social life and for 91% it has affected their wealth.
“By paying no regard to an older person’s abilities society simply casts off people as being untrainable, inflexible, weak and slow. Whereas the exact reverse is true – younger people don’t have the practical experience; often don’t have the inclination to provide good customer service.
Ageism is creating a society where their ‘golden years’ are becoming years of frustration, depression, anxiety and resentment. A community of mature workers is being created who are scarred by an experience which stays with them forever. It seems extraordinary that a large pool of available talent – people who believe they can contribute valuable skills to a workplace – is going to waste
This isn’t a sexist thing, it is affecting both men and woman and all avenues of employment from the shop floor to high powered managing directors.
It has become the norm in the economic climate of today for companies to cut costs, and this often means employing younger people on the national minimum wage, rather than paying for experience.
Ageism is still "endemic" in the UK workplace despite new laws coming into force in 2006.
Since the new laws came into force, Figures from the Tribunal Service show that claims rose from 962 in 2006 to 2,940 in 2007 and getting worse. As more and more people are coming on the job market because of redundancies and company closures, they are finding it harder to get work. However proving the company has discriminated against you is also hard. No company wants to taken to a tribunal, so they will use whatever phrases as feedback to make is sound as if they have employed someone younger as already mentioned above.
A total of 1,000 people over the age of 16 were asked for an EFA report concerning the enforced retirement age of 60/65.
Of those polled, 92% believed they should have the right to work for as long as they like if they are able to do their job but, one in five said their employer would force them to retire at 65.
It’s an interesting point that the ambivalent attitudes displayed towards older people in society. But when the crowds thronging the Mall and cheering the Queen Mother for reaching her centenary belied the fact that society generally treats its older members with disdain. That is, until they reach 100 years and then everyone wants to know the secret of their success!!
As more people reach their centenary, with increased medical advances should we then understand that the elderly have a rightful place in our society rather that ignoring them.
Wisdom comes with age, embrace it and take the world forward.
We can do it... can't we