Welcome to the club! If you are in your mid to late 50’s, have 20+ years with the company, your position has been eliminated. Of course, it is not age discrimination; it’s just a coincidence that your position was eliminated as the company shifts course. Sign this letter stating your age had nothing to do with us letting you go, and you will get a separation package, 6 months' pay. Don’t sign it, and you get nothing. Do you see a pattern in the people who have been let go from the company? Of course, age discrimination is illegal, but good luck with that. The politicians have their heads in the sand regarding companies letting older workers go. (I wrote to them and got a standard form letter response, assuring me they are on top of it.) The company CEO made XX millions in stock options for running an efficient operation. But that is good for our stock prices, isn’t it? What about society? The vast majority of CEO compensation—roughly 70–80%—is delivered via stock awards and options. The gap between CEO pay and average worker pay has reached historic levels in recent years. It is out of control.
Under 65 and don’t have Medicare, good luck finding health insurance under $1,200.00 a month with no paycheck coming in.
Being over 50 and trying to find a job to replace your mid-level management position pay rate is next to impossible. Next time you are at the grocery store, Dollar Store, or other retail establishment, look at the age of the person bagging your groceries. You are now competing with the younger generation at entry level low paying jobs.
Luckly I was in a good position for early retirement. We spent less than we made. We have no vacation home, drive a 13-year-old car that still runs great, and live below our means, but very comfortably. We made regular contributions to our investing plan and are able to live off part of our dividends from our investments without having to sell any of our stock/mutual fund, or ETF shares. Since we don’t need all of our dividends for living expenses, we are able to reinvest the difference and continue to grow our monthly income. We are one of the lucky ones. I see some people who live paycheck to paycheck, have fancy cars, boats, jet skies and garages overflowing with stuff that they can’t even get their cars into the garage. They lived the good life and didn’t plan for tomorrow. Now they are paying the price. Should we concern ourselves with their plight?
I see many other people my age or older who say they can’t afford to retire. Working low-paying jobs, trying to make ends meet. Paying for health insurance and medications vs eating today. Barley able to keep up with the high inflation environment we are currently experiencing. Some people are in a bad condition because of the choices they made with their spending habits. Others just didn’t have the opportunities and advantages in their lives, didn’t catch a break. Luck plays a big part in life. The decision you make today will affect your tomorrow is one of the sayings my wife repeatedly told our kids.
This is the mess our generation has allowed to occur. What can we do about it?
Comments
Welcome to the club! If you are in your mid to late 50’s, have 20+ years with the company, your position has been eliminated. Of course, it is not age discrimination; it’s just a coincidence that your position was eliminated as the company shifts course. Sign this letter stating your age had nothing to do with us letting you go, and you will get a separation package, 6 months' pay. Don’t sign it, and you get nothing. Do you see a pattern in the people who have been let go from the company? Of course, age discrimination is illegal, but good luck with that. The politicians have their heads in the sand regarding companies letting older workers go. (I wrote to them and got a standard form letter response, assuring me they are on top of it.) The company CEO made XX millions in stock options for running an efficient operation. But that is good for our stock prices, isn’t it? What about society? The vast majority of CEO compensation—roughly 70–80%—is delivered via stock awards and options. The gap between CEO pay and average worker pay has reached historic levels in recent years. It is out of control. Under 65 and don’t have Medicare, good luck finding health insurance under $1,200.00 a month with no paycheck coming in. Being over 50 and trying to find a job to replace your mid-level management position pay rate is next to impossible. Next time you are at the grocery store, Dollar Store, or other retail establishment, look at the age of the person bagging your groceries. You are now competing with the younger generation at entry level low paying jobs. Luckly I was in a good position for early retirement. We spent less than we made. We have no vacation home, drive a 13-year-old car that still runs great, and live below our means, but very comfortably. We made regular contributions to our investing plan and are able to live off part of our dividends from our investments without having to sell any of our stock/mutual fund, or ETF shares. Since we don’t need all of our dividends for living expenses, we are able to reinvest the difference and continue to grow our monthly income. We are one of the lucky ones. I see some people who live paycheck to paycheck, have fancy cars, boats, jet skies and garages overflowing with stuff that they can’t even get their cars into the garage. They lived the good life and didn’t plan for tomorrow. Now they are paying the price. Should we concern ourselves with their plight? I see many other people my age or older who say they can’t afford to retire. Working low-paying jobs, trying to make ends meet. Paying for health insurance and medications vs eating today. Barley able to keep up with the high inflation environment we are currently experiencing. Some people are in a bad condition because of the choices they made with their spending habits. Others just didn’t have the opportunities and advantages in their lives, didn’t catch a break. Luck plays a big part in life. The decision you make today will affect your tomorrow is one of the sayings my wife repeatedly told our kids. This is the mess our generation has allowed to occur. What can we do about it?
Post: Laid Off
Link to comment from February 6, 2026