I can’t tell the countless times I’ve seen good value in people and them being disregarded because of their age.
Are we an ageist society?
Just found out that anyone over 60 will soon not get tuition fee loan in the UK from 2027. So many will not go back into study as a means of learning a new skill, so they can get back into a new sector of work. Their pensions are not cutting it either and often many continue to work well past retirement age. It’s likely this will increase over time.
Young people are searching high and low for jobs but to no avail. When they do have a job the pay check to pay check scenario makes it a challenge to rent or buy a home.
The young and retirement age are both equally an important asset to the workplace. Where technology is advancing and trends are ever changing the young bring a great approach with a new line of thinking and the retirement age bring some strong past experiences that can still be applied today.
Both age groups creates solid foundations for a great company.
We all require personal development and everybody has to start somewhere. I welcome the opportunities now with apprenterships leading the way to learn and earn.
There’s also a new trend of people swapping big city jobs opting for working in cafes because it brings a slower pace and you simply can leave your job where it is at the end of day. No working late into the evening finishing reports and emails.
So when a prospective employer tells someone they’re over qualified it doesn’t make sense. The person usually has intentionally picked a job that they can smile, serve and leave there at the end of the work day.
When I worked for a bank I love the diversity of ages from young to retirement age (back then people had enough to retire). We all worked pretty well together and it brought a constant vibe to the workplace with its knowledge and personality’s from all ages. The conversations were great and funny. We learn’t things from various colleagues.
I would love to see a world whereby we have a diversity of ages and see people for who they are as individuals and what they could bring to the workplace. Not a mental tick list that includes age as a restriction because young people need experience and to build a life outside of their parents or care giver. Retirement age may wish to keep their self busy or want make a continued contribution to the world, the obvious need finances.
If reading this as an employer consider giving these age groups more opportunities.
Chanel x
