About being laid off and unwanted when you're 59

The Star (South Chicago) ^ | 4/23/6 | Michael Bowers

[SmithL]

One of my readers is an underemployed 59-year-old man from among us here in the South Suburbs. Call him Harry. He works in information technology. Slowly and wearily, he says: "Once you get past 50, I swear, it gets tough, it gets really tough."

For instance, Harry applied for a job with a city of Chicago department that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He got an offer for some contract work. There were no benefits, but it was a paying job.

A woman from the city called him one Monday morning and wanted to know if he could start at midnight. Harry said he'd like to give his current employer a week's notice. That wasn't good enough. The job was gone. The caller told him: "This is a brave new world. Learn to live with it."

[EEDUDE]

"Most people who are laid off were productive members of their companies. The companies either no longer had work for them to do, or pretended not to, and then sent the work to India or China, or hired a new grad to do the same work (although probably not as well)."

Well said!

Most people don't realize how prevalent this is.

Motorola laid off 59,000 tech workers in 2002, and moved their plants to China.

They promised a resonable severance package IF you signed an agreement not to sue for age discrimination.

Beancounters do not have a good stick with which to measure the value of experience and competence in the tech world.

Therefore, what looks the cheapest MUST BE the cheapest!

But, alas, you do get what you pay for.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

You've got that right! It's funny how your concerns change. First it was save enough to be able to retire. Now it's how do I keep what I worked for as others want to take it from me. Argh! It never ends!!! :)

[fso301]

It's unfortunate to find oneself caught up in such situation but if a person has marketable skills and a good work ethic, they'll find another job and someone will be glad to employee them for as long as they can make it to the workplace and do their job.

[EEDUDE]

I go to a doctor who does just exactly that.

$50.00 flat office fee. Will not accept insurance.

Interstingly, office visits usually last 30 minutes and he LISTENS to what you have to say!

[SamAdams76]

All this yip-yip-yapping about how hard it is for people to retire. I just returned from a trip to visit my retired parents in rural Alabama. When they were 65, they sold their house in the city and paid cash for a double-wide trailer to put on a 10-acre lot out in the country. Doesn't cost much to live down there. Because my father is homesteaded, he only pays $100 a year in taxes and the only bills are utility and food bills and his Social Security easily covers those. Anything else my father has in the way of savings and retirement income is gravy. My father is working class and never made much more than $35,000 a year his whole life and he will probably have a better retirement than many of today's yuppies who are spending it all at Starbucks and Sharper Image.

When I retire I'm doing the same thing. I'm moving out to the middle of nowhere. Someplace like rural Alabama, New Mexico, Nevada or Montana.

[CindyDawg]

I don't look at it that way. More power too them. Some are better planners than others. Some had more opportunities. Life isn't fair. I read their posts though because there may be some good advise there to help me in the future if I don't get all huffy and blinded..

[ImpBill]

While it might be too late for a lesson in "what you should have done", although the principle of the lesson is never too late, it certainly is never to late for a lesson in "taking responsibility for what you did or didn't do".

People who can't or won't accept responsibility for "their" actions or inactions are the ones that should make you "sick" if being "sick" is where you want to be.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

You people make me sick.

Well stated! Of course your statement is one of the leading justifications for Communism (people who earn and save make others jealous/sick). Congrats!

(Tip: DU is at http://www.democraticunderground.com/ but you probably already know that, being a major donor.)

[ImpBill]

I think you are arguing a loosing battle. The sad part of it is that these exchanges are taking place on a so called "conservative website". There seem to be way too many arguing against taking personal responsibility for their actions/inactions.

The dumbing down of America has been a huge success.

We, at least in attitude, have become the "Nanny State".

[Max Monroe]

My SS is abysmally low. I live in Ocala, FL, horse capital of the world!!! My expenses including Medicare, Medigap insurance, utilities, etc., etc., etc., run about $1,200 a month - so unfortunately, I do have to work. The company I was invested in filed for bankruptcy after the Federal Government decided to look into them. Millions more than me including some of the best educated people (in the financial world) in the country lost their shirts - not that that makes me feel any better.

[SamAdams76]

The I've got mine club just dropped in, welcome. You people make me sick. Envy and hate are emotions that will destroy you. I suggest (for your own personal well-being) that you purge them from your body before it is too late. I know some people who are consumed with hate and envy and they have basically ruined their lives over it. Personally, I'm happy to see people do well, even if they are doing better than me. As for hate, I don't hate anybody. Why would I give other people such power over me - especially people who I do not like?

Now all you poor people out there stand by for a lesson on what you should have done.

And what is wrong with having a lesson on what you should have done? I am happy that I was able to learn from those who did well instead of just hating and envying them. As a result, I learned how to do the right things and I am now doing well for myself!

[TheOracleAtLilac]

While I agree w/ your planning/saving philosophy....things are quite different today vs. 30 years ago & the planning for a comfortable retirement for a 20something might take a very different course. Consider the differences now vs. 30 years ago:

Only "growth" industries being govt., eldercare &drugs
the number of personal & corp. bankruptcies
stock market returns vs. interest rates
housing cost as a% of moly income
the ridiculous cost of a 4 year degree
job/career prospects for a recent coll. grad
the absense of personal accountability
the lack of business ethics/accountability
etc

[OkeyDokeyOkie]

Bowers'column is bound to resonate with older workers all over the country and it should serve as a warning to younger workers, as well. Those older downsized workers have, in many cases, contributed more to their companies than their employers, who are shortsightedly more focused on temporarily bettering the bottom line than they are on improving the overall outlook for their companies, are willing to acknowledge. Sadly, the combination of the lessening of the brain trust and the destruction of the morale for those workers who survived the cuts will likely result in the ultimate failures of the companies.

Ironically, the vision of 50-year-olds as dinosaurs does not conform to the reality of today's working force, many of whom plan to work well into their 70s. To discount and discard those experienced, proven, and loyal workers demonstrates an ignorance of current trends and an almost certain failure for the future.

[CindyDawg]

Yep. It's not like life is over. It's never too late to start saving,and get out of debt. There are many good suggestions on this thread.

[daybreakcoming]

AMEN on the college costs. We have three straight A students who all plan to attend college. We hope for scholarships and their part-time jobs to assist us in the expense. We do have a savings plan earmarked for their education. They are also enrolled in a program that will pay off $10,000 (drop in the bucket) when they turn 18. And none of them are Taliban or illegals so we can't look for any assistance there.

"Easily affordable". snort, eh?

[Luke21]

There's a lot of that here. Some guy's getting old and on the one hand these folks tell him to "get a job" and on the other to "start a business."

We have some real ham handed conservatives here. The guy isn't a parasite, but they treat him like he is.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

We, at least in attitude, have become the "Nanny State".

Yes, you're right on that one. And the govt. schools are really pushing the limits, teaching kids to be afraid of drawings of guns, etc.

I think (hopefully) that most of the people arguing on the other side are just wound up in it emotionally. I never argue against charity giving a helping hand - what better way than to have people who actually care help out. I'm not saying that the guy in the article is an idiot. He is probably like the majority of America (meaning the U.S.), like you and I said, who didn't plan very well.

[FreeReign]

Call him Harry. He works in information technology. Slowly and wearily, he says: "Once you get past 50, I swear, it gets tough, it gets really tough."

Keep up with the latest technology or else you become like Harry.

[CindyDawg]

How is it talking down to him to tell him to use it as an opportunity to do something better vs being a victim? Who needs a job like that? Find a job with a company that has a good work ethic, be your own boss. The options are limitless. Would it have been more conservative to say "Oh you poor thing. Let's take your SS and place you in a nursing home or on in government housing. You are to old to be working".

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Yes, I quite agree with your observations. Though I do see the older (seasoned?) employees being laid off where I work (a fortune 100 company).

When I mentioned business ethics, I meant that to go both ways. As you said, employees now view each job as a two-year stint, there for the money and the resume enhancer and will be gone with the next better deal.

Only a few decades back a man got a job (in the single-worker family model) and was fairly sure he'd be there for life. A combination of the lure of profits in the short term and a desire for a higher salary have broken down the trust and ethics of both sides of the employment agreement. It's a shame, really.