Ageism in the workplace: What older workers can do to stay employed

A new study claims about 56 percent of Americans over the age of 50 have faced or could face "employer-driven" job loss, according to ProPublica and the Urban Institute. Last year, two longtime Ohio State University teachers reached a settlement after suing for age discrimination. In our Work in Progress series, we partnered with LinkedIn to take a closer look at issues affecting the workforce. LinkedIn editor-in-chief Dan Roth joins "CBS This Morning" to offer practical tips for how older Americans can protect themselves in the workplace.

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[Jennifer_Lewis_Beach_Living]

This is a cautionary tale. This is why as you get closer to that age group, you have to HUSTLE.
- You MUST have multiple streams of income, like side gigs and investments.
- You MUST throw in as much money as you legally can in your 401K and IRA. Remember that you can start collecting on it when you’re only 59 1/2, and if you have a disability, you can get a waiver to collect sooner.
- You MUST cut your expenses and keep your debt at zero or nearly zero.

The reality is that in a company layoff, unless you’re an executive, older workers are the first to go, and it takes an older worker longer to find a comparable position than a younger worker, so they have to take positions at a significant pay cut. You have to be prepared for a longer unemployment stretch or a lower pay grade.

[AlexMoschopoulos]

And it's funny how it's backfiring.

We see companies that try to push out all the older Gen X and replace them with Y and Z, then they complain how these younger kids quit too easily or they have no work ethic, or they thought they would be technologically advanced, but they're only advanced in things the company doesn't need. So perhaps those younger workers are savvy with social media, but have tons of trouble using MS Excel or something of that nature.

Obviously this was 3 years ago when this article came out, so we didn't have the pandemic and the great resignation. I can understand a company not wanting to hire an older worker because that older worker is showing that they are behind on their skills, and worse, unwilling to be managed by someone younger. Just because you are older doesn't mean you should instantly be management.

However, there are many older workers that have the skills, experience, and an incredible work ethic. They don't complain if they have to work past 5:00. They don't sit there expecting a raise and promotion every year just for showing up and doing the job.

I'm also reading now how the unfortunate reality of many youth is that they spend so much time in regimented play time and activities that they are suddenly lacking in creativity and problem solving skills. I hope they can catch up, but it's again another reason why corporate America shouldn't just dismiss anybody above the age of 50.

[cericson]

It's even worse if you're an older worker and get caught up in a layoff, it's not easy finding another job when you're 55 to 60 years old.

My wife has been looking for 8 months now and has had many interviews most of which seem to go fantastic, and then she gets the dreaded email we decided to go in another direction.
In my mind that means a younger worker because my wife definitely has the experience.

[bonefishboards]

I'm 56 and building neural network machine learning models. However, I'm far and away the oldest on the (my) engineering team. My management is in their 30's and can't understand how predictive analytics works. And I get the sense that I'm gone when the next culling of the herd occurs. And I will never be able to apply my skills at this level ever again if I get canned.

[dancook]

A lot of companies now cleverly force out older works by eliminating jobs older higher paid

[vtkkceq]

Affirmative action for workers aged 45 and older. Because ageism begins way before 50.

[fightemploymentdiscriminat]

More content like this please! Age discrimination keep getting more common.

[tttappin]

I am 53 and I applied and interviewed for two jobs and I did great.
For some reason I did not get both jobs even though I aced the interviews and acessments...wow what a shame.

[silvermist]

I heard that age discrimination for women start at 35

[BG-pdos]

Even though in the last year I have taken a 25% pay cut I am still employed in the same field for the last 32 years, I consider myself lucky at age 61 lucky and plan to work till I am 70!

[jfnovella]

Yup. I just started experiencing this at work. After experiencing homophobia and racism in the workplace, I can honestly say it is pretty easy to identify workplace discrimination in any form. Workplace discrimination hurts, no matter how and why it's happening.

[rock]

Everyone at that table, except the LinkedIn guy were thinking about their own situation. It was evident on their faces.

[debh]

Having gone through this being laid off at > 60. Realize you can’t stop people from considering your age even if you’re at the top of your game. As for your present employer they may think just how many years does she have left to give us ?? and you can’t stop that from happening ! But for NEW employers they CAN’T ask you your age! So don’t sabotage yourself by putting a birthdate, a graduation date or any other dates on your resume that will lead to your direct age !!! Once they meet you then you can win them over in person.
Anytime you feel you are being discriminated against KEEP a daily journal 📓!!! Even tabs would be nice !!! The big picture will be eye opening !!! For example if you didn’t get training and they just threw you in there keep that UN-filled out training list ! KEEP hard copies of inappropriate e-mails and if there was an inappropriate in person meeting follow up with a summary e-mail to document it and run off your hard copy. Over 60 in the past and most likely still is a protected age. Although employers act as if they don’t know this ! And employment at will states do not help either ! If they are not giving you the tools to be successful in the beginning document, document, document. Good luck getting a lawyer to take it on though probably not enough money in it.
These lay offs may effect the rest of your life’s earnings if it causes you to take early social security. HOLD up BEFORE you draw early social security. Social Security that increases 8 % per year especially in the later years to age 72 at which point it will not increase. WAIT as long as you can before taking social security !!! Increasing that monthly check as much as you can before you take it ! Talk to a financial advisor to make these choices.
Don’t let the emotions of the situation cause other unwise choices like moving your 401/403 to accounts with more fees from a employer based accounts without fees. You will be tempted to make quick decisions just make sure it’s the best decision for you in long term.
Last tip: in today’s world give up perfection for speed. Sometimes being older we default to just wanting it done right instead of just completing it ok with more speed !
Unfortunately time ran out before know your legal rights could be covered but important info here. 😊😊😊

[RPM.]

Plain & simple, .... When a company can hire a younger worker for cheaper, ....beware.

[jimmyjack]

I call bs, employers are paying new younger people more that experienced one and the younger employees get the cushy jobs that older ones should get do to they have earned the position.

[fremontpathfinder]

That's why I have a union government job. I still suffered some age discrimination at the age of 44 when attempting to transfer to a different position but I can't be laid off due to the credentials I have. I don't plan to retire. It doesn't make sense to give up the good salary and great benefits.

[claudiaharris]

Ageism is real. I have been discriminated against in my job search.

[markd]

We should be fixing this country's discriminative unethical business hiring practices, not catering, cowering or figuring how to beat it...

[MegzeeR]

I hate this "gotta keep up with technology" crap! Who do you think worked from using DOS, through windows in it's beginnings and all the freezes and lock ups, lost data, etc through today's point and click? WE DID!! My last job was hooking up NETWORKS together for college classrooms, sound systems and projection equipment. I had at least 3 training classes a year on updated technologies for the past 12 years. Most of the technologies they're looking for are really tight butts, smooth skin and possibilities for "fun times" (sexually). Plus our H(W)EALTH and liability insurance skyrockets putting even more of a burden on employers who want to hire and keep us old fogies on the job but it's more business prudent to let us go and hire young ones since all this "complicated" technology basically does all of the work today and all you need is a warm body there to push buttons or click an arrow to get the job done. And this trend is going to spread more and more down the line of employees until we're ALL unemployed to tech replacements. WAKE UP NOW because the water's already boiling for the upper 50% of workers and warming up fast for everyone else! We must CHANGE our social construct of having to work outside the home to be paid because that idea is ALREADY OBSOLETE! Employers, who you going to sell your goods or services to if nobody is working? That's why retail, restaurants and thousands of businesses are closing today because NOBODY'S working enough to BUY YOUR STUFF! THINK! Let common sense come back to your future planning. Politicians! SEE PREVIOUS STATEMENT! No workers...NO TAXES!

[fremontpathfinder]

What is shocking is that the person who discriminated against the two Ohio State University teachers is going to get old themselves