If you’re an older worker who is approaching retirement age, you may not be financially able to retire and still continue meeting your financial obligations. You want to continue working for as long as possible so that you can build up your retirement pension a bit more.
But, does your boss appear to have other ideas? You may be getting the impression that you are being aged right out the door of your company.
Is this legal? How can you tell if this is happening? And if it is, is there anything that you can do about it?
Age discrimination is not legal, but it can be a challenge to prove that is what is happening. The signs can be either blatant, e.g., your boss making jokes about you retiring when this is not even on your radar, or far more subtle. But the end result may still be the same.
Perhaps the best prevention from aging out of your job is to resist obsolescence at every turn. Stay abreast of new trends in your industry, cutting-edge technologies and terms to avoid appearing moss-backed and stuck in an older era. If social media has eclipsed you, get up to speed quickly by signing up for a Twitter and Instagram account. Check out Tik Tok and other up and coming platforms so you remain relevant.
Understand that organizational change constantly ebbs and flows. Not all changes that occur will be a direct threat to your employability. But be alert to instances that are — and be prepared to document them. Should you later have to seek legal redress for age discrimination, this could be a pivotal point in your case.