an age old problem

Continentals are shocked that Britain has elected such young politicians to run the country, and yet Audrey sees it as a consequence of an aggressive youth revolution in the workplace that is putting younger and younger people in charge and sidelining middle-aged people like her who, in less revolutionary times, would be gearing up to take over from the retiring ranks.

“As soon as we reach 40, or even 35 in some industries,” claims Audrey, “older women are seen as dinosaurs – past their use-by date – and a younger candidate will always get preference over a mature woman when applying for a job or a promotion.”

“The mature women will be told that other candidates had skills, qualifications or experience that were more appropriate for the position,” says Audrey, “yet these women know what is really at issue – their age.”

"It may be legally discriminatory to hire, fire or select for promotion on the basis of age," says Audrey, "and I’ve never been asked my age outright, but all employment forms carry our date of birth and despite these records supposedly being confidential, everyone at work knows how old I am - 45.”

"My mother never put her real age on her employment form," laughs Audrey. "She said it was none of their business and back in those days she could get away with it. It was considered indelicate to ask a woman her age. You can’t lie about your age these days. It’s against the law."

“Ageism as a result of an aggressive youth culture in the workplace is a newly created problem – it never existed when all young people started at the bottom irrespective of their talents,” says Audrey. “Giving positions of power to young people who may be talented, but lack the qualities of responsibility that only come with age, is a risky business.”

“I’m not saying that all young people are incapable of being leaders – in the workplace or in the political arena,” says Audrey. “I am merely pointing out that their age has not yet conferred upon them the experience they need – something you can’t gain from a text book or a lecture – and I no more feel comfortable with a 20-something boss than a 40-something prime minister.”

“I may be terribly old fashioned, but I feel people in their retirement years are better suited to leadership than any other age group,” says Audrey. “They’ve been there and done that and are less likely than a younger person to seek leadership for personal gain.”

“When will this madness end – with an 18 year old candidate gaining selection with a platform of ending all welfare for the elderly?”

Read more by Audrey on this issue:

being old in a young workplace

workplace dinosauresses