Why are people who are not young anymore treated like garbage in America?

Question

I have heard that women who are legal secretaries are having massive difficulties in finding new jobs (especially) good jobs if they happen to be over 50 years old.

I have done business with a lady who used to work in the six figures range who claims that she cannot get any job for even minimum wage. She is over 70 years old.

I constantly hear about the elderly getting screwed out of their retirement plans and having to come back out of retirement and working for quite a few years still to be able to have a decent retirement when they are done.

Is America private club?

"Only the young, beautiful, influential, wealthy, and famous people get to enjoy life here"

Screw the rest of us...

Answer 1

It isn't just the US, it's western culture and the corporate mentality that if you're over 50 and a woman you have no value, because you are not a sweet young thing.

And I believe your friend is having a hard a time finding work.

However having seen some of the sweet young things in action both males and females , there may be more businesses looking for those leftover baby boomers when the syts wander off for another job with more perks and leave their bosses in the lurch.

North America has not yet learned to appreciate older people, the boomers may change that perspective in the next ten years or so.

Answer 2

Give me a break. If what you say was true I wouldnt have been able to work into my 70's with minimal education and even more minimal funds. There will always be inequities whereever you go. How can you make such a broad sweeping condemnation of an entire country? I'm not beautiful influential wealthy or famous and I enjoy my life in the United States very much Sorry about you.

Answer 3

Like any other age group levels of American citizens, senior citizens deserve to be treated fairly. It is their right as human beings. At the age of 60 to 70 years old, some people are still working in order to survive; while some others, are already enjoying life leisurely. Ideally, the government should have some special provisions for the elderly. For example, special jobs for the 60 to 70 years old citizens; provision of laws protecting the retirement/ annuities of the retirees; and laws punishing the children who abandoned their elderly parents.

Answer 4

It's called 'ageism'. There was a documentary on this - they sent young people and an older person for interviews on different jobs, and they found that the young people were more likely to be employed than the older person once they found out how old he was.

There were instances where the older person was in fact offered the job, but when the younger person turned up, the younger person was employed and the older person told it was a mistake when he turned up the next day.

There were other ways this happened, but the documentary was quite clear in its experiments in this - the result was clear - there is discrimination against older people for employment purposes.

Sad, but true.

ADDITIONAL

...still, one mustn't generalise - maybe it's different in different locations all over. Keep trying and not lose hope.

Answer 5

I think what your saying is very true.But it happens in many parts of the world. The big problem is that the young are always in such a hurry, and they lack both patience and maturity. That old person who has held you up in a queue, or who fumbles with their purse; may well be a war hero, or have flown fighter planes, or served in a submarine etc. Just the same as older people are more than adequately skilled in the labour force. Most of us are not GaaGaa, nor ready to drop dead any time soon.I am 72 this year. I am quite capable of holding my own on this site, but I'd be useless trying to run and catch a bus.Remember! you'll be old one day.

Answer 6

Yes, I do believe America is a private club. The young, beautiful, influential etc. enjoy life here. To me, it is discrimination, we are not judged on experience, knowledge or ability, age means you might be losing it in our society. I have been blessed with having a career where my knowledge and experience is valued and I do work with mostly under 40, I fit in very well with them but they are open minded, willing to learn, intelligent young people. Not the majority in this country. What you have said is so true and needs to be said it is just unfortunate most who need to read it will never even make it to this section.

Answer 7

if a person is over 50 or is not a barbie doll no matter what her or his skills are, nobody seems to want any knowledge the person has.

employers seem to want to dispose of the employees who have been there the longest has the most knowledge and go for just out of school who will work for almost nothing.

life is not fair, even though we maybe a little over the barbie doll looks we are smart, hard workers, who still need money and spend money.

employers wake up when nobody knows what is suppose to happen on a job look out bad things can happen.

Answer 8

After reading the answers to this question, I am relieved to see it is not just the USA!

Knowing about age discrimination - and even with working in a big city government where pay is equal for both men and women - I would dye my hair so the gray wouldn't show. If I go back to work, I will begin dyeing it again so I look a little younger.

Answer 9

Well, that's one way of looking at it. It's considered a "throwaway society" and the first thing that gets tossed is older people AND their experience, patience and wisdom.

You might be interested to know that our Social Security system doesn't allow people to earn much money or they forfeit the Social Security.

When one retires, if one has more money to rely on than Social Security, one should also have an honest and dedicated financial adviser.

Answer 10

Well your information is INCORRECT and we have agencies that find jobs for all ages, I find jobs for people 55 and older insidently I am a good looking Sr. and I have a great job..Experience Works, Inc. is the agency you contact in any town.