It was in 2008 when I noticed the economy going down hill and becoming concerned. People were losing their jobs due to off shoring and lack of fund. However, since I was a good worker and on my job for 7 years, at that time, I was confident and thankful that a fate of being laid off would not happen to me. Actually, during 2009, I recall thinking "hmmmm, usually when things go bad, I generally end up being laid off.." I thought back on the times this has happened to me in the past, in the early 80s and 90s. The country was in a recession during both periods, and I was laid off from work during both periods through no fault of my own.
You can imagine my shock and surprise when I was called into the Chairs office in February 2010 to learn that, once again, I was being laid off. Lack of funds was sited as being the reason. I knew this was bull, because I worked with the budget and accounts and although things were tight, my job along with the other laid off person could have been saved. We weren't even offered the opportunity to work part time as there was no interest in retaining us. The ugly truth was that funds needed to be available to do other things and to hire other people, initiating lay offs was their way of having those funds. I was also shocked because I honestly believed that I was working for an organization that valued it's workers and laying off anybody was not a option. I had excellent job performance reviews and I did a good job, so I felt very secure. In fact the HR team use to boost about never downsizing and avoiding lay offs at any cost...well, so much for that!
I was panic stricken because this time, unlike the other times not only was I exposed to dealing with discrimination due to race and sex (I am a black female), but now I had to deal with potential age discrimination as well....3 strikes!! Age discrimination has no color or sex , anybody over a certain age seeking work is exposed. And so it began, as I started my job search. jobs that I knew I would've gotten during a different time, I found myself not even being considered. It is hard enough to find work during tough economic times, but to be confronted with the possibility of age discrimination is almost too much to cope with!So many times, I read of older employees seeking work only to be turned down time and time again due to suspected age discrimination. I recall watching a tv series that followed the job search of 3 females. One. a younger black woman, worked in a factory, the other a middle age white woman worked in a bank and the last owned a business that was being affected by the economy. Both the black younger woman and the business owner were able to rebound...however, the older white woman, is still seeking work. She had to tap into her 401k plan in order to survive. If you look at the 99ers still out of work, there is a disportionate amount of unemployed workers in their 50s. This is disheartening!
It should really be illegal to lay off anybody who is 50 and over, unless there is real lack of funding. And if there are other employees, then the older employee should be allowed to bump them for their job if the older employee can do it. It is hard for most to find work in difficult times, but for the older employee, it can be almost impossible regardless to how much education, skills or experience they may have.
