An older worker’s perspective
Dean* is 53 years old and has worked at the same car dealership for the past 10 years. He describes his organisation as hierarchical and feels that his age affects the way he is treated at his workplace.
He describes being considered “past it” and unable to keep up with others. For instance, when the company was organising a post-pandemic return to the office, he was the only one singled out for a back-to-work interview. “I applied for another role recently and the recruiter told me the feedback had been that I was seen as too old and therefore unsuitable for the role,” he says. “At my workplace, we definitely hire a certain type of person.” As a self-described creature of habit, Dean spent 9 years working in an office of his own, only to be moved reluctantly and without consultation to a new space. This triggered his anxiety. The dress code also become stricter, requiring white shirts where company fleeces were acceptable before.
“My workplace has a stereotypically masculine culture, making it hard to challenge leadership decisions for fear of conflict,” Dean says. “We also have no initiatives in place to safeguard employees’ mental health.” Dean says he would like to see more investment into creating a culture of care, where workers’ needs are supported. *This case study is based on an interview with one of the survey participants, but their name and some details have been changed following a request for anonymity.
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