Dana, thank you for writing this. I experienced exactly what you described here.
2026 has done me dirty...
In early January, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, it was caught early at stage 1a. I decided on a double mastectomy to avoid the whole chemo/radiation monstrosity. Surgery was mid-February and my post-surgical prognosis is excellent. My employer offers short-term disability, so I took that for 2.5 months to ensure plenty of time for treatment recovery.
I started back to work on May 1st. On May 4th, I was informed that my position as a database administrator for the largest healthcare company in the US would cease to exist after September 4th. That was a lie - my position is going offshore to 2-3 people in Hyderabad, India.
I worked for the company for 14 years. I turned 64 last month and am disabled - I cannot walk or drive. I applied for several internal positions in the 3 months I was required to work in order to receive severance, and got as far as the second interview. As soon as I told the hiring managers of my condition, I was shut out. My last day was yesterday.
Sure, it's illegal, but who enforces it? Seriously, even if you can find where to register a complaint, the odds are very good that nothing will happen, definitely nothing will happen to the MBAs behind the attitude, and you risk getting PIPed or point-blank laid off for "being inconvenient." Even if you suck it up and put up with the abuse, anyone over 40 has a big target on their foreheads: act out and find yourself looking for work for years, if you're able to find work at all. (I'm now on 2 1/2 years of job searching, and the only response I get any more at 60 is from blatant scammers.)
Then there is the old saying… don’t burn your bridges - good pt to consider b/4 jumping into an expensive lawsuit that will very likely go nowhere fast!
I remember the days of "having experience" was what got you a job. Of course, the ol' catch 22 was; you needed the job to have experience. See? There was the problem from the start.
Dress for the job you want! What? I see young men coming in with three piece suits and high top runners. What? I'm not talking about the ones that are literally my "huffing it to work" runners. There was no changing into your Windors and completing the outfit. Women cannot do that. I can't show up in a tailored suit and sneakers. Women are judged. We are still expected to wedge our feet into those tight, narrow contraptions with 3-4 inch heels and run.
My industry of telecommunications, was really one of the first affected by the use of AI. Why pay a human when a chat bot can do it for free? It was hard enough when jobs were transferred to other places, because it was cheaper labour.
So, I have tried to steer in another direction, but I now understand what "people in their 50s", are from a 28 year old perspective. You do start to question what the actual fuck was it all for?
It's so easy to get so tired of the constant goalpost shuffle. The perpetual game is "we need 18-year-olds with 30 years' experience in tech that's been around for six months, and if it's not on your resume, we'll hold our breaths until we turn blue. Meanwhile, our crack team of executives couldn't pour piss out of a boot that expressed written instructions, with diagrams and a QR code to the video, printed on the heel, and if you wanted to work with us, well, you should spent eight years of keggers toward your MBA like us."
Brava, Dana! You are right and it’s wrong. The companies know they’re hiring inexperienced and often indifferent youth because they’re cheaper and it’s always all about the immediate bump in a profit field. Okay, kids aren’t always indifferent, but some are.
My 28.5 year career was primarily in the government with 6.5 years of that total spent in uniform when merit meant something unlike now. But I digress…I learned that the government was just as bad as the private sector with its weird hiring processes. The last agency I worked at constantly changed the goalposts for employees trying to get promoted or move on to another job to expand their work experience. Always changing the algorithm to cull the resumes (it was called the “Individual Talent Profile” by the agency…uh, yeah, fancy huh?). Last year when the wrecking ball (DOGE) rolled in, I was offered an early retirement and took it. The probationary employees were under threat and a Reduction in Force was threatened so, at 56, I ran for the door. I’m fortunate to have a healthy chunk of change in my 401k, get an annuity, and I’m still figuring out how much I need a year to live, thrive and survive (note to self: add some coin to cover for the stuff that comes up like garbage disposals that call it a day). Still a few years out from social security (fingers crossed). I debate about getting a job, but put up with ageist bullshit to actually get one? I’ll pass.
A former boyfriend got let go from a large software company a few years ago. IIRC he received a severance package. I don’t think he’s jumped back into the job market at all.
Dana, thank you for writing this. I experienced exactly what you described here.
2026 has done me dirty...
In early January, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, it was caught early at stage 1a. I decided on a double mastectomy to avoid the whole chemo/radiation monstrosity. Surgery was mid-February and my post-surgical prognosis is excellent. My employer offers short-term disability, so I took that for 2.5 months to ensure plenty of time for treatment recovery.
I started back to work on May 1st. On May 4th, I was informed that my position as a database administrator for the largest healthcare company in the US would cease to exist after September 4th. That was a lie - my position is going offshore to 2-3 people in Hyderabad, India.
I worked for the company for 14 years. I turned 64 last month and am disabled - I cannot walk or drive. I applied for several internal positions in the 3 months I was required to work in order to receive severance, and got as far as the second interview. As soon as I told the hiring managers of my condition, I was shut out. My last day was yesterday.
Ooof. I’m so sorry. But I’m so glad you caught it early!
My company doesn’t even try to hide its contempt for its senior workers anymore…
Ooof I’m sorry. But also isn’t that still… illegal?
Sure, it's illegal, but who enforces it? Seriously, even if you can find where to register a complaint, the odds are very good that nothing will happen, definitely nothing will happen to the MBAs behind the attitude, and you risk getting PIPed or point-blank laid off for "being inconvenient." Even if you suck it up and put up with the abuse, anyone over 40 has a big target on their foreheads: act out and find yourself looking for work for years, if you're able to find work at all. (I'm now on 2 1/2 years of job searching, and the only response I get any more at 60 is from blatant scammers.)
Then there is the old saying… don’t burn your bridges - good pt to consider b/4 jumping into an expensive lawsuit that will very likely go nowhere fast!
Oh, it’s totally illegal, but proving it is tough.
I can't afford to retire. 🤣
I remember the days of "having experience" was what got you a job. Of course, the ol' catch 22 was; you needed the job to have experience. See? There was the problem from the start.
Dress for the job you want! What? I see young men coming in with three piece suits and high top runners. What? I'm not talking about the ones that are literally my "huffing it to work" runners. There was no changing into your Windors and completing the outfit. Women cannot do that. I can't show up in a tailored suit and sneakers. Women are judged. We are still expected to wedge our feet into those tight, narrow contraptions with 3-4 inch heels and run.
My industry of telecommunications, was really one of the first affected by the use of AI. Why pay a human when a chat bot can do it for free? It was hard enough when jobs were transferred to other places, because it was cheaper labour.
So, I have tried to steer in another direction, but I now understand what "people in their 50s", are from a 28 year old perspective. You do start to question what the actual fuck was it all for?
It's so easy to get so tired of the constant goalpost shuffle. The perpetual game is "we need 18-year-olds with 30 years' experience in tech that's been around for six months, and if it's not on your resume, we'll hold our breaths until we turn blue. Meanwhile, our crack team of executives couldn't pour piss out of a boot that expressed written instructions, with diagrams and a QR code to the video, printed on the heel, and if you wanted to work with us, well, you should spent eight years of keggers toward your MBA like us."
Brava, Dana! You are right and it’s wrong. The companies know they’re hiring inexperienced and often indifferent youth because they’re cheaper and it’s always all about the immediate bump in a profit field. Okay, kids aren’t always indifferent, but some are.
That life coach can pause, reflect, and organize deez nuts.
My 28.5 year career was primarily in the government with 6.5 years of that total spent in uniform when merit meant something unlike now. But I digress…I learned that the government was just as bad as the private sector with its weird hiring processes. The last agency I worked at constantly changed the goalposts for employees trying to get promoted or move on to another job to expand their work experience. Always changing the algorithm to cull the resumes (it was called the “Individual Talent Profile” by the agency…uh, yeah, fancy huh?). Last year when the wrecking ball (DOGE) rolled in, I was offered an early retirement and took it. The probationary employees were under threat and a Reduction in Force was threatened so, at 56, I ran for the door. I’m fortunate to have a healthy chunk of change in my 401k, get an annuity, and I’m still figuring out how much I need a year to live, thrive and survive (note to self: add some coin to cover for the stuff that comes up like garbage disposals that call it a day). Still a few years out from social security (fingers crossed). I debate about getting a job, but put up with ageist bullshit to actually get one? I’ll pass.
I’m 56 as well and still employed… for now. We’ll see how long it lasts in this wacked economy.
A former boyfriend got let go from a large software company a few years ago. IIRC he received a severance package. I don’t think he’s jumped back into the job market at all.
Really great writing Dana!! I was laughing so hard and screaming because it is alll so damn TRUE!! Thk u for your well articulated thoughts!