During a recent conversation with a client, I was asked “why, at this point in your life are you still working?” That bad little voice inside my head immediately wanted to reply with “are you fucking kidding me?” but my well-behaved voice replied politely, hidden behind an orchestrated smile. Difficult, overall, considering that I had bitten my tongue in the process. Down deep inside, the comment left me feeling very alone, in a familiar place.
In all fairness, do most people look at those of us who are in our older years and visualize us traveling some continent or, worse yet, sitting in some pasture, waiting for the sun to rise and set again? The question posed was understandable, yet, still kind of thoughtless. Since the start of the manufactured pandemic a few years ago, the entire workplace structure has been fairly impacted, something I’ve railed on about previously and continue to do so; it has not and will not die easily, at least not in my remaining lifetime. People look to work longer, some, out of necessity or boredom. Also, they still have the ability to remain useful in their chosen field of employment but the big issue is just how older individuals are honestly valued at their given place of employment! Too many find themselves slowly phased out, both where a given schedule is concerned along with reduced financial compensation. Employers feel that once retirement age hits, there’s a huge money cushion that older employees can fall back on, as such, salaries and associated benefits are greatly affected. In addition, companies constantly bring in younger, inexperienced, hires on a lower pay scale and use the older, established employees to train the proverbial new kids on the business block. The next move is to just about always offer the senior employees a buyout or simply terminate their employment.
The unfortunate situation is that, very often, one becomes an outsider in their current work environment, looking in from an uncomfortable distance with each passing day. Job loyalty no longer exists and any continuation of employment finds itself entirely on new terms with a take it or leave it scenario. We often hear about “60 being the new 40”, a popular expression that reflects a societal shift in how people perceive and experience aging, particularly in their 60’s and beyond. It suggests that older individuals today are often as active, healthy, and engaged in life, more so as in previous generations, all capable of bringing their expertise in their chosen field of employment. Most, like myself, work to feel useful, to make a difference, and for decent financial compensation. While the advancements in healthcare, along with lifestyle changes bring a more positive outlook on aging, the operative word is “positive”, except in today’s workplace, where it should be easy enough for an older person to remain productive. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
What’s the end result? Working in a limited position, looking in on all that was once familiar from a detached perspective, feeling excluded and not fully understanding that what you once managed and created no longer matters. Now, you find yourself nothing more than an underpaid familiar face with so much still left to offer, yet completely out of place.
From the Writer’s Workshop: Where is the last place you’ve been where you felt completely out of place? What’s something that you find difficult, but you think in your mind should be easy?
