Oink

It's like anything with human societies. It's about control of resources. So scratch under the veneer of civilization, if you have and control resources as an older person you're valued, if you don't you're not.

BristolUK

Excellent points.

I actually quite like Canada's use of "Senior" rather than OAP or pensioner.

As an aside, I get super irritated when the word is used to garner undue sympathy and its side effect of insulting the individual.

DandNHill

The stupid thing is that 40 is the new 30. We're living longer and healthier lives. People are remaining in the work force longer. In some sectors there is a shortage of candidates.
So that all contradicts ageism.
It's true too that if discrimination is not tolerated for race, religion and sex how come it's still ok for age...

Somebody mentioned all the older workers in Home Depot and the likes...he's not that old!!! He still has 12 years left of his "normal" working life!

Siouxie

It's not - it's against the Human Rights laws of Ontario, however, trying to prove it is another matter. Policy on discrimination against older people because of age | Ontario Human Rights Commission

I was told by Employment Services 7 years ago that I would likely never get another job, due to my age, lack of Canadian work experience and because I have a hearing impairment. That's a government department who apparently realise that whilst there are laws against them (Age / Canadian Experience / Disability) the reality is that they are not easily enforced. How do you prove that you were not offered a job due to one (or all) of those?

Linotype

I had a friend who was laid off at 50.
A fit guy who ran marathons.
He wanted to work for Canada Post as a Mailman.
He met a manager for Canada Post at the gym. This manager told him not to bother as they had an unofficial policy not to hire anyone over 50. So yes even in government crown corporations ageism exists.

Shard

If true, that's a bit shocking.

caretaker

Not when they're offering buy-out packages to long term employees at 55..

Shard

Well, technically that's driven by years of service not age. I'm just saying it's incredibly hypocritical for a government entity to have an age discrimination policy if the government itself is espousing non-discrimination. Or maybe there is no such official policy in Canada?

MarkG

If the SENS folks are right, 70 may soon be the new 30.

Of course, by then, robots will be doing all the work anyway.

caretaker

It's a budget issue. If they hire someone over 50 it may be a contract route driver for rural deliveries, but out of scope and part-time (maybe) so costs less. It's the same in corrections both federally and provincially, they will try to get those over 55, sometimes 50 to take lump sum payments and reduced pensions to get out early. Some of those positions get shuffled around so ultimately a part-timer with less benefits fills the position and a little less money is spent. The Corps of Commissionaires fills that gap at a lot of small RCMP detachment jails, replacing unionised guards. Mailman is a bad example imo since Canada Post loses so much money and the quality of service so poor and it is so expensive it can't compare to mail services in other countries. To get a job at 50 with the post office apply now for the temporary Christmas rush jobs and then if you get one keep applying after and hope they liked you and want you back.

ann m

I bet a lot is down to salary expectations too in many cases.

Some places would rather hire the less experienced candidate, pay them less, and train them up, even if there are gaps in knowledge.

Why pay the 50 year old with experience, than the 30 year old who will accept less dollars.

Not saying it's right. If I left my position, they'd bring in a 30 year old with 5 years experience and pay them considerably less. The job would still get done. Just not as good as me, obviously 😂

I work with a bunch of 30-something women. It's not acceptable to comment on this but we've had 10 babies in the past 15 months in our department alone. Now that is disruptive to the place. The work still gets done by cover-off's but it hampers the ability to move work forward. I'd rather hire the 50 year old than the 30 year old who will have a couple maternity leaves, then move on anyway. Sexist? Ageist? No, just practical.

jamesmc

one of my coworkers(I work for a contractor) is 70.On the MB gov side of things another 72 plus at least a dozen pension age 65 + Manitoba highways has no problem taking "oldies on" seems they are reliable ,most not druggies(anymore) and do whats asked without whining and moaning,and being on a camp job up north respect others!.

Former Lancastrian

Im so glad I didn't say this but how true it is. My Agency doesn't fill these spots so the rest of the workers pick up the work this person(s) would normally do.

Piff Poff

I just want to say a little something, my daughter, 22, was laid off in May. She is in Burlington, she applied to loads of jobs, resorted to doing a paper route for the summer just to be able to pay rent and eventually found a new job about 3 weeks ago, she applied for applied for anything and everything. I just don't think it's as easy to get a job as it used to be.

BristolUK

Wow, that's impressive. Glad it worked out