Ageism — Rampant in the Workplace and Under Recognized
I am an “older worker.” The age that qualifies one as such seems to depend on the age of your colleagues. The younger they are, the more likely a person in their 40s can qualify for the definition of being an older worker.
Me? Way beyond 40. I am 64. I work in a field that is tech heavy and data driven. I keep current and routinely kill my performance reviews. Though we all have weaknesses in our skillsets, I am rocking my job and am recognized as a key contributor when it comes to process improvement and better software design, from the users’ perspective.
After one has established their value and worth in a job the prejudice and stigma of being older than the average in your workplace seems to erode. But like any stereotype, older workers are expected to prove their worth before being fully accepted. Just as people of color or any of the other myriad categories of persons who are consistently discriminated against, older employees are greeted as guilty until proven innocent, or underrated until they demonstrate otherwise. It’s an additional burden that no one needs.
Once accepted into the fold, the fact that you’re on the upper end of the working age range is pretty much forgotten. And that’s when the ageist comments start to slip, often followed with an awkward pause or the ridiculous comment “nothing personal”.
Very common is the phrase “senior moment.” The sad thing about this one is that it is very often uttered by an older worker! What? STOP THAT! Everyone forgets things at one time or another. If it’s a younger person who does, they get an automatic pass. “She’s so busy, it’s no wonder,” or simply “They have a lot on their plate.”
Who the fuck doesn’t?
If you’re a mature worker, please never say this. Don’t reinforce the concept that if your age is-whatever-that you’re more prone to lapses in memory. I realize that there is no denying that with advancing age some erosion of memory occurs. But like most challenges one faces in the workplace, the alert and committed employees find compensating tools. We write it all down, record meetings when permitted, refer back to notes and to-do lists routinely.
Enabling behavior? You bet! It enables those who make use of these techniques to continue to be awesome contributors. No different than the colleague with attention differences who documents everything, or the co-worker with mental health issues whose value is recognized and is granted the time for self-care as needed.
The differences that impact our performance — whether perceived as negative or positive — all blend beautifully in a healthy work environment to bring differing perspectives and thought patterns to the table that make for a creative, dynamic, and inclusive workplace.
Another area of ageism revolves around the perception of personal demands on our time. “Well, you should be able to work on this over the weekend as you don’t have little ones at home.” Never said outright; illegal. Strongly implied? You bet.
Read an article! Google that shit! Get to know us and the pressures we are under when we log off for the day. Many of us are looking after aging parents, taking care of grandchildren, assisting and housing the adult child who is unable to find a job that will sustain them in financial independence in this economy.
Life can suck for us all, and each of life’s phases and stages offers up its own ration of difficult crap. Please, never assume that because someone has no kids, grown kids, no spouse or partner or whatever you deem worthy of the tag “overburdened” that their life is easier than yours. Not true. When you take the time to explore beyond initial perceptions you will learn how utterly false this is and if you’re a tuned in human, help you develop an empathy and understanding of the other person’s shoes.
How easy it is for us all to delude ourselves into swallowing the “that will never happen to me” meme. Get ready, folks; all the stuff that you have laughed at and expected to avoid is on its way to a location near you — your life.
Dealing with a boatload of relatives in different phases of need? It’s on its way. If not, and you have no close relations, you may be dealing with loneliness, depression and feelings of isolation. Planning to have your financial house in perfect order for early retirement? One economic downturn and too much debt may blow up your sunny vision of middle-aged retirement and a beach house.
Struggle is human. It happens to us all. If we are lucky, we all get old. Please recognize the older person’s value and the contributions we make. (Whatever age you assign to “older”, consider that the older you get, the higher that number will be.) If you can’t embrace this perspective, please at least educate yourself regarding the offensive phrases and thought patterns you may use that reveal your prejudiced views of older workers, however you define them.
Before signing off, I want to share some of the appalling things I’ve heard in recent years in my space as a close to retirement age worker. Memorize them, please, and scrub them and their thought forms from your vocabulary.
1. Boomer. I am! And I have lots of insight and knowledge to offer from prior to your birth that may be of value. I use my decades of knowledge daily to inform and enhance solutions that a younger person may not be aware of.
2. Senior Moment. Addressed above. ‘Nuf said.
3. “Are we sure that they [the perceived old fart] is current on _____________. (Enter whatever software you are thinking of). Please remember, we invented most of the platforms we’re all using now.
In summary, trust the older worker, but don’t cut us slack. We don’t want or need that. We were hired for a reason or have endured because we deserve to. No doubt, some of us are incompetent, assholes, or both. Also, no doubt, that’s the same for your other colleagues, whatever their age bracket.
I am great at my job. And I truly appreciate my current employer, a company that recognized my abilities and hired me in my 60s. Just as with any group that has endured stereotyping, prejudice, and small minds, we ask that you drop your preconceptions and get to know us and all that we can do, our unique perspectives and the accumulated knowledge we bring to the table.
Next: Sexism coupled with ageism. Whoo boy!