So how true is this in the Triangle?

[MarkCanWrite]

I just read this article about ageism in the tech fields; really glad I bailed on IT a few years ago. As a writer, I rise or fall on my own merits, not because of the color of my hair or the whim of some mid-level manager.
Silicon Valley

[WRAL]

it's exactly the same article by the same writer that was attached to the original post but in two different publications

Originally Posted by MarkCanWrite

I just read this article about ageism in the tech fields; really glad I bailed on IT a few years ago. As a writer, I rise or fall on my own merits, not because of the color of my hair or the whim of some mid-level manager.
Silicon Valley

[byebyenortheast]

Originally Posted by WRAL

It's true everywhere in every occupation not just engineers. As people get more experienced, ie older, and move up the salary grade it becomes inevitable that they are easy targets for cost cutting exercises in any organization. At some point when economic conditions improve they will be replaced by a lower cost individual who may actually do the job better. The organizations doing it just have to be careful to avoid ageism lawsuits.

We used to refer to it as The GOOF Program -- Get Out Old Farts

[frankpc]

I've spent a fair number of years managing engineering groups in development and technical sales support groups. While certainly exceptions exist, I'd say the salary range for experienced EE/CS types is in the $110K - $130K range (salary plus bonus/comp but without benefit loadings).
I've also never been coached to RIF based on age/salary. Indeed, HR typically develops a RIF age matrix of impacted employees that is sent to each impacted employee so any age discrimination would be fairly apparent.
I'm not trying to imply that everyone plays by the rules, but some folks do.

All that said, I do agree that many high level positions are being shifted off shore for savings in the 75% range. Language and cultural barriers aside, its astounding the level of talent you can find in Asia, India and Eastern Europe at far lower salary levels. Not to sound like an old fart, but I'm concerned about that impact on smart, young folks starting to build a career.

Frank