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I had every expectation of retiring in my late 60s or as late as 70. I was always reading the articles by the experts telling us that the best approach is to keep working until 70 and then start collecting Social Security. That way more money goes into your bank and investment accounts and you get the maximum Social Security. Seemed so logical but life and people's bias got in the way.
Once I got to 62, I could do nothing right. Every action real or imaged I did at work was second guessed and spun to the negative. I had a long record of success at work and always got great performance appraisals.
People started calling me old man and duffer. They kept asking me when I was going to retire. I was marginalized and given less and less to do. All the others workers in the office around my age were falling like flies and once they left none of them could get another job. Finally, I was fired for a poor fit. (After fitting in for over ten years at the company.)
I can't decide if I should sue for age discrimination, or call it a day and officially retire. For all practical purposes I am retired now. I expect that my story is quite common today.
Sorry to hear this happened to you. It is sad the way older employees are treated today.
However, this plays out everyday with companies and in corporate america. Our CEO stood in front of a group of employees and stated the average age was 52 and then went on a tangent about how people have trouble with change. (insinuating, because you are old) Funny thing is in a few years he will be 52. Do as I say not as I do.....
You can sue but winning is hard unless you have clear documents stating age is the reason for your firing or bad reviews. Or if co workers will stand up and testify for you.
If it is a public company you can always contact the EEOC and file a complaint. If they get many complaints they might start an investigation into the company's firing policies.
I had every expectation of retiring in my late 60s or as late as 70. I was always reading the articles by the experts telling us that the best approach is to keep working until 70 and then start collecting Social Security. That way more money goes into your bank and investment accounts and you get the maximum Social Security. Seemed so logical but life and people's bias got in the way.
Once I got to 62, I could do nothing right. Every action real or imaged I did at work was second guessed and spun to the negative. I had a long record of success at work and always got great performance appraisals.
People started calling me old man and duffer. They kept asking me when I was going to retire. I was marginalized and given less and less to do. All the others workers in the office around my age were falling like flies and once they left none of them could get another job. Finally, I was fired for a poor fit. (After fitting in for over ten years at the company.)
I can't decide if I should sue for age discrimination, or call it a day and officially retire. For all practical purposes I am retired now. I expect that my story is quite common today.
I'm sorry you had that experience. They would not dare do that here - I work in government. Every year at our open enrollment we have harassment training - how to spot it and how to report it. Because there's been a prior history of problems that have not gone the way of the PTB - they are VERY sensitive to it.
Years ago my wife was laid off from a large credit union, the official paperwork included a list of all those who were laid off, not by name but age. Companies today spend a fair amount of time doing CYA activities at the HR level, and one is the act of spreading the age of dismissals across the employment spectrum. This usually happens in a manpower RIF which affects more than a few people. The laying off of one or two might not require that HR decision to show a mix of age. Most states have at will employment, so, making a case for your age being the cause of your dismissal may be more than a bit difficult.
I think unless you're in the highest ranks of your job (think executive/board level) or in a career you truly love, most people end up retiring earlier. Whether it be they have the money and can finally stop the job they hate, or they are forced out by other reasons such as lack of work, layoffs, age discrimination, etc.
Mitsguy - Happened to us. Husband forced to retire at 62. We paid from private savings for health insurance until Medicare kicked in. That is what "savings" is for.
Mitsguy - Happened to us. Husband forced to retire at 62. We paid from private savings for health insurance until Medicare kicked in. That is what "savings" is for.
For most people that age, the cost is basically impossible, especially if you have even a minor medical problem.
How can we afford it? DH was laid off just before 61st birthday. You use the rainy day savings you have. No other choice. Very hard,if not impossible to get hired FT with benefits at that age. Life throws you curves. Always be prepared.
This same old age lay off situation is happening all the time when you are close or after 60 years old. Companies no longer want older employees for various reasons.
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