‘Discarded like used tissue’: Readers on ageism are forcing over-50s to move out

AGE discrimination is rampant in the workplace, Independent What readers say after new ONS figures are shown Unemployment growing and vacancies Fall.

Readers said the lack of jobs was hitting older people hard and that people in their 50s and 60s were feeling “discarded like used tissue” after decades of loyal service.

Some described becoming depressed and experiencing financial stress after being laid off, while others said they were forced to take low-paying or part-time jobs. Work Stacking shelves despite years of professional experience.

Many blame cost-cutting managers who view older employees as “expensive” and “outdated”, arguing that this short-sighted approach sacrifices skills, guidance, and productivity.

Others said that companies’ obsession with cheap labor and short-term profits has left them struggling to rebuild teams.

Many readers have quickly turned to retirement Or self-employed out of necessity, only to find the solution both exhausting and uncertain.

While some talked about eventually finding rewarding work, most painted a bleak picture of insecurity, lost confidence and wasted experience – a generation of “old horses” who felt let down before their time.

Here’s what you had to say:

Abandoned after 30 years

My wife worked in the same company for 30 years. After that he was thrown away like a used tissue because he had earned too much.

This caused four years of suffering for us, when she became depressed and started drinking excessively, which almost led to the breakdown of our relationship. I was angry because he had given most of his life to the company. His experience and skills were completely ignored. one year after Work While hunting, she came across a local supermarket, which she hated.

Luckily, she had a private pension, which meant she could retire. I had and still have a relatively well-paying job, which keeps us comfortable. I completely sympathize with those who are having difficulty adjusting. However, never give up. Something will work out.

kingofsawbo

downplay

At age 62, I have never qualified for unemployment benefits even though I have been unemployed three times and have always had private unemployment insurance. I was last let go three years ago. I was once self-employed, where the exploitation was absolutely unbelievable.

I attended job interviews where I was told I was too senior/overqualified for the roles. I had several offers of paid work two days a week, but actually had to be on-call the entire week without any additional compensation. Could have worked for free, sorry, the “volunteer” was doing exactly the same work as before, so I politely declined. Eventually, I decided to start receiving my very modest deferred council pension and enjoy life with significantly less material things. It’s hard, but I’m getting used to it.

The exploitation and humiliation of my generation when applying for roles can destroy one’s self-confidence and mental health, which I experienced first-hand. I refuse to transfer my hard-earned skills to supermarket shelves.

Cesinha

Our children will get no inheritance

I went through my first redundancy at 45 and got my next job eight months later. The second redundant was 55, and took 18 months to find a job. The third redundancy was at 63, and seven months later I got a contract job that ended two months after my 65th birthday. Now unemployed, on the dole, I’m looking forward to November when my state pension starts, I’m carefully using some of the money from my private pension.

Our children will likely receive little or no inheritance, which is probably fine, provided it is taxed as worthless. When we have to move into a managed care facility and sell the house, whatever money we have will be gone.

This country needs to pass an age discrimination law banning employers from only hiring younger workers or the cost won’t pay!

spend frugal

Older employees are more expensive

It has always been more difficult for older workers. If they wish to remain in their workplace, an older employee is more experienced and therefore more expensive, and if they move to pastures new, they are seen (usually wrongly) as more risky, less adaptable and harder to train.

Similarly, many of the complaints from young workers that they are having difficulty getting their first significant job sound eerily familiar to me from when I was first looking for a job 40 years ago. There’s a lot of nervousness about jobs, but despite the disruptive impact of AI, I’m not sure there’s anything new here.

tanaquil2

listen to our old horses

I am 57 years old and used to work in accounting, audit for chartered accountants. I’ve been pushing trolleys at Tesco, filling shelves and working the tills at the Co-op for the last six years.

Here’s some business advice from me: Cutting costs (ie, wages) rather than increasing turnover with increased productivity leads to a reduction in the value and quality of the product/service. This is a false economy. The business folds. They suck it up – I’ve seen many young hotshot CEOs do this in my 30 years. Greed is everywhere and always will be.

But they don’t take advice from us old guys anymore – we’re old horses that are out of date, expensive to feed and a few steps away from becoming glue. I could train a new group of finance staff who can keep businesses afloat longer term, but instead I’m packing those shelves with your bread.

genmm

it’s scary there

I am now 60 years old. Just before Covid, my job was transferred to someone cheaper and younger in the EU. Then Covid came and interviews were not happening anywhere. Covid ate up all my savings and endowments, and I finally got a job in a new industry at half pay, although only for two years. Fortunately, this gave me the experience to return to in a better permanent role later. I don’t make anything like my old salary, but I have a pretty good job that I enjoy… for now. It’s scary there. I have never been out of work before and am not sure if I will be able to find a new role now.

little tipsy max

Some comments in this article have been edited for brevity and clarity.

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