Should Older workers over 65 move aside so young workers have a chance? (employees, unemployed)

[old today]

My wife is still working at her company and is in her late 60s. She gets a lot of push back from the younger workers on staff and is told the company gossip mill is saying she should retire so young people can have a chance. In fact, there are quite a few workers at her company in their 60s and 70s who just keep going into work every day and have no plans to quit. The young people think they are deadwood. My wife agrees, she says many of the older workers at her company are dead wood and are just going through the motions and make lots more money than they would pay a fresh young worker in their 20s and 30s. She thinks the best employees are between 40-50 years old.

Every time one of the older workers leaves he/she is replaced by someone 25-35 years old and pay them half as much. In many ways, the younger workers bring new energy to the job and environment with better technical skills and energy.

What do you think of older workers in their 60s and 70s who just won't quit, that may or may not be deadwood?

(Question from an old retired worker who retired at age 61)

[TheOldPuss]

I'll tell you what's deadwood. Young workers who feel entitled to have time off every time their kid sniffles, check in late and leave early because of their "family obligations" or Pilates class, insist on paid maternity time off by the company beyond the standard 12 weeks, expect their workplace to become a de facto day care center when they run into a snafu with childcare, and can't seem to peel themselves away from their electronic appendages or surfing the Internet while on the job.

Further, the older worker has invaluable experience, human relations skills, and, in most cases, a work ethic like no other. Most are willing to learn the ins and outs of work technology; keeps the mind sharp. Most older workers bring energy to their jobs; they haven't been out partying until the wee hours or waking up in the middle of the night (see aforementioned "family obligations").

Don't bash the old. They take the jobs that a lot of the younger set won't. Old age and tenacity will never overcome youth and skill.

[MLSFan]

Once she retired, the position will close and they will be left with her work and no promotion

It's a win win for everyone but the complainers

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by MLSFan

Once she retired, the position will close and they will be left with her work and no promotion

It's a win win for everyone but the complainers

Yes, in many cases, this is what happens.


Reduction-in-force through attrition.

[Disgustedman]

We have three people retiring.... All of them have 20+ years and one is 30 years with the company. One is a operator who plans of still working 1-2 days a week (Yes, the company allows this) one guy is down to three days a week...Probably 2 more months and gone. The last one (30 year man) has finally gone....But replace them? One can replace them all, but with new people?

Not likely, these people knew most of the tolerances of the parts, had extensive experience in molding operations and not to mention tooling experience...None of this was gained from a textbook, but by living it day to day....They were young once, but now are the "Old Ones" but to replace them would be impossible..... but maybe in time, the 'Now Young" will soon become the "Old Ones" and then fade out....

[joe from dayton]

No one is obligated to be unemployed so someone else can have their job. If deadwood is being kept around, that is a failure in management.

[PJSaturn]

Please read the W&E forum rules. Age bashing is not permitted. Please don't make sweeping generalizations about any group of people in any forum. Thread closed.

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