Discrimination typically lurks deep inside people’s minds and hearts, isolated in dark and hidden places. It is usually pushed down in the unconscious, sitting there, waiting to rear its hateful and ugly head. It is not usually acknowledged or spoken about, because it is usually a person’s deepest darkest secret. People rarely admit their prejudice in public.
Except in the world of American politics, apparently, where some people flaunt it in a campaign ad.
To see what I am talking about, check the article about the senate race in Utah, feel ashamed to be an American and then see my take after the jump. Full disclosure: FOT does not usually pick political sides….we make fun of everyone equally.
We've seen campaigns play the age card before, but a new fundraising email from upstart Utah Democratic Senate candidate Scott Howell may take the cake.
Howell, who's challenging longtime Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch this November, sent a fundraising email to supporters this week that warned voters of “the risk of an 80-year-old man taking office, only to retire or die before his term is through.” (Hatch is 78.) “Look, Orrin Hatch is not a bad guy. But he is an old guy, and he's a lifer politician,” Howell wrote in the email, which Daily Caller reporter Matt Lewis posted on Twitter…
Howell told Yahoo News that he doesn't think pointing out Hatch's age is a form of age discrimination, but rather a way to emphasize his belief that the senator has held power for too long and to express his concern that Hatch might die in office. “My father passed away when he just turned 80 and my father-in-law passed away when he was 85, and that's just the reality…that's the circle of life.” he
said….”I think a sitting senator who's been there 36 years is not doing a favor to anyone in the state of Utah nor to the country. He'll be 84 years old (at the end of his seventh term). Eighty-four. Think about that.”
Circle of Life? Holy Schnikes. I am not an Orrin Hatch fan, but this is a US Senate campaign spouting this garbage.
I get that anything goes in politics, but this commentary just reinforces the notion that more experienced people in their career cannot keep up. I don’t buy it, and this campaign obnoxiousness gave me a reason to write about its impact on hiring older workers.
As you work in the trenches hiring people, keep an eye out for the code phrases that managers will throw out to cover for their discrimination:
- “We liked her, but we have questions about her energy level.”
- “I really need someone to be here for the long term.”
- “I wonder if he will fit into our results-oriented culture.”
- “Good guy, but will he be able to keep up with the fast pace of our business?”
Call BS on each of these. No one knows how long any employee is going to be around, and young people can get lazy just like old people can be lazy. Why would you limit your candidate pool by excluding potential candidates?
I think there are goober old workers and goober young workers. It’s our job to figure that out, just like it is with any other candidate. Hire people who have a demonstrated track record of success in a similar environment and who have a skillset that meets your needs. If you allow someone to take the easy way out, using age as a reason to avoid hiring someone, I think we have to lump you in with the whack job senate candidate from Utah.
Hit me in the comments…
As an engineering recruiter, I’ve seen some managers respond in ways that really made me wonder if they knew what they were saying. Saying a candidate has too much experience, even when they agree to your salary, is a dead give away. Sadly, one of my managers once said they can understand that kind of response, since the client obviously would want to “get their money’s worth” for the fees they were paying, and an engineer near the end of their career would not be staying as long.
As we know, however, the average tenure in a position is around 3 to 4 years now, and I’ve even seen candidates who thought nothing of changing jobs again in 2 years. So, this feeling may work on one level but it doesn’t hold up to reality.
But I have one client who prefers more seasoned candidates, since, as he told me, the return he gets on their experience and inside leadership exceeds what he sees from younger engineers.
Tom-Great points, especially regarding average tenure in a job and the return on experience. Thank you for the comment.
There are actually blogs and advice columns out there that actually tell young people to job hop…2-3 years is plenty of time to acquire any knowledge and skills a new position or company offers, make some connections, and then just move on. In this rapidly changing culture, apparently the ADHD generation is actually being told to embrace this! To your point about “I want someone for the long haul,” the older the candidate is, the better (potentially). And this is just my anecdotal evidence, but I see just as many spritely septuagenarians as I do young people…maybe more. My 75 year old neighbor is, as I write this, mowing his lawn (with a push mower) and looks like he’s going to clean his gutters next!
I’m sorry but I know I’m going to be the bad guy here…I don’t want a politician (no matter how loved) sitting in the same seat for 30 some years. I don’t mind a person being in politics for that long but to do the same job for over 30 years? I just can’t wrap my mind around it.
Maybe because I’m on the development side of the shop but I wonder, in politics especially, how has he developed (other than age), are his methods different today than they were even 10 years ago, is he overall better? I just don’t know. The thought of someone being in the same position doesn’t signal growth to me. Even if a person doesn’t want to move up…there are a lot of overs to try out.
TM-I appreciate your point, and I don’t disagree that person in one job for 30 years is usually not good. To be honest, I don’t know a thing about Orrin Hatch and his performance in the role. I was probably reacting more to Howell’s comments specifically geared to age, which seemed pretty evil. Focusing on Hatch’s development, methods, performance? That’s 100% fair game.
Driscrimination is alive and well in the United States and if you are over 40 you are a victim. Recruiters routinely screen out people over 50 and will not present them HR managers have the same bias.
Companies want candidates who are under 40 with 40 years experience!. They discount the older work force and throw them away as not functional in their enviroment, then lament the fact that the younger work force has no loyality or regard for the company and only work for what’s in it for them!
There is a vast labor market of senior people who can walk in do the job and have a high regard for their employers. They are loyal, to a fault, and can carry the mail in your organization. they don’t aspire to be Vp’s and above. They’ve been there done that, but they need to work. The great American economy has devestated their savings and earnings and they need to work, to SURVIVE. What don’t you guys get about that? You want a 20 something who plays on the internet all day and uses recreational drugs all week end and comes to work blown out on Monday?
Something is definately wrong with this thinking!
Tom: You are so right! Why are we not doing something about age discrimination in the HR offices across this country?
Try being a 53 year old female! I have two strikes against me. Why? I have a BA and post-graduate education and lots of healthcare experience. Why can’t I get hired in my field? Simple: I’m 53 years of age and female. EDD confirms that employers are not hiring workers my age and that this is happening all over the US! Can younger workers talk about this? D-I-S-C-R-I-M–I-N-A-T-I-O-N or Age phobia? We need to dialogue about this taboo to overcome the issue.
I’m a young looking woman for my age, but once the ‘Talent Acquisition Team’ does the math, I am tossed in the can. Shame. And so many people in this country lament that all the people on unemployment are lazy. Well people/employers – put your money where you mouth is and hire older workers. We REALLY want to work. I am signed up at 77 employer sites and there is no communication from any of them. I have a good work history, too. How sad for our country.
This column is so, so right on the mark. As an employment law attorney who advises employers, I can confirm every bit of what R.J. Morris is saying. It’s so ironic – there are so many inaccurate and outmoded stereotypes about older workers, yet so many employers complain about the lack of work ethic, lack of loyalty, irresponsible habits, poor attendance, and tendency to quit on the part of some of their younger workers. Let’s get real – good employees are wherever you find them, but you must first open your eyes.
Age discrimmination I agree is alive and well!
Re-occuring interview question …how many more years were you wanting to work….
Tell them that Social Security tells us we need to work until we are 72 to get out benefits. That will shock them.
Try being a 53 year old female! I have two strikes against me. Why? I have a BA and post-graduate education and lots of healthcare experience. Why can’t I get hired in my field? Simple: I’m 53 years of age and female. EDD confirms that employers are not hiring workers my age and that this is happening all over the US! Can younger workers talk about this? D-I-S-C-R-I-M–I-N-A-T-I-O-N or Age phobia? We need to dialogue about this taboo to overcome the issue.
I’m a young looking woman for my age, but once the ‘Talent Acquisition Team’ does the math, I am tossed in the can. Shame. And so many people in this country lament that all the people on unemployment are lazy. Well people/employers – put your money where you mouth is and hire older workers. We REALLY want to work. I am signed up at 77 employer sites and there is no communication from any of them. I have a good work history, too. How sad for our country.
Done voted. And someday I will tell you about the sad and angry e-mail dtbaee that was incited by my brother’s simple reminder to my extended family to make their voices heard. Hypocrisy pains me regardless of from which side of an issue it rears its ugly head.
Try being a 53 year old female! I have two strikes against me. Why? I have a BA and post-graduate education and lots of healthcare experience. Why can’t I get hired in my field? Simple: I’m 53 years of age and female. EDD confirms that employers are not hiring workers my age and that this is happening all over the US! Can younger workers talk about this? D-I-S-C-R-I-M–I-N-A-T-I-O-N or Age phobia? We need to dialogue about this taboo to overcome the issue.
I’m a young looking woman for my age, but once the ‘Talent Acquisition Team’ does the math, I am tossed in the can. Shame. And so many people in this country lament that all the people on unemployment are lazy. Well people/employers – put your money where you mouth is and hire older workers. We REALLY want to work. I am signed up at 77 employer sites and there is no communication from any of them. I have a good work history, too. How sad for our country.