Too Old To Work

Those of you who thought you may not be "employable" because of your age, may not be wrong.

While the publishing industry has vastly evolved through the years, the down side is downsizing, leaving many many talented folks largely unemployed. I know a few that are going on seven years without work and the numbers continue to increase, no matter how many times they may have attempted to reinvent themselves and their positions.

AARP sent out this email asking all to tell Congress to "stand up for older workers"-  I believe there is powers in numbers...

For more information and to be heard, visit the AARP site to take action here.

Your friend lost their job…

Check out what Idealist has to say.

Being unemployed is a bitch. Especially in NYC. Especially if you have been working since you were 16. Especially if you are the product of a parents who came to New York for better opportunities. Immigrants tend to instill in their children, "WORK WORK WORK. You have to work twice has hard as they do to get half of what they have." It is ingrained in your every fiber that to be productive, to be constantly working, to not be "lazy," that to having a job is more than just part of the package of the "American Dream" - it represents who you are as a person. Period. In order to exist, you have to have a job. Needless to say, in NYC you are the "forgotten invisible ones" if you are unemployed (at this rate just put me up in an old age home and call it day.)

Saying you are unemployed is like saying you have leprosy. People walk away, keep away, stop calling, assume "you are going through something," "are too negative to be around", the list is endless. Even Mother Teresa would need to bite her tongue and prevent herself from telling her friends and family  "F*# U biaatch... put yourself in my shoes - let me see YOU hustling on a daily basis to simply cover your basic monthly phone bill or commuting costs to interview appointments. Let me see you sending out 50-75 resumes or more a month and just sit and wait for the phone to ring. Let me see you negotiate with Verizon on a monthly basis to kept incoming service on."

So, the next time you hear a friend is unemployed. Stop and listen, we all need to vent. Ask them for their resume and offer to send it to people who you think may be hiring. Take them out for a cup of hot chocolate or ask them to join you for a walk. Offer to have them over for a potluck dinner to watch a movie. That's what unemployed folks need.

If you enjoyed their company when they were working, why not now? Are they not the same person who had hopes and dreams yesterday. Are they not the same person who was always in your corner cheering you on?

 It's that simple. Do not disappear - that makes the unemployed person feel like, "you know what, when I had money and was paying their way...these folks were always around...now that I can not pay their way, much less for myself - they have dropped me like a hot potato."

It's pretty basic, your self-worth is re-examined daily as an unemployed person. Interviews can sometimes be so demoralizing...especially if you make it that far.  Lately most employers are doing survey email questions, moving on to phone interviews, and if you are one of the lucky ones, an in person interview is next. So by the time an unemployed person gets to meet an actual interviewer, they are  are so numb and expressionless - there is no motivation because one walks in wondering, "what hoop do I need to jump through now?

So if you value that friendship and what that person brought to the table prior to their being unemployed, stick around and let them know what you did value about them.

If you do not believe me, check out what IDEALIST has to say, the next time you hear a friend has lost his/her job.


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Fired at 50+

Here's what AARP.org has to say about it....

Dear Unemployed New Yorker, Every American worker deserves fair treatment in the workplace, regardless of their age. A new bill in the Senate would help older workers fight back against discrimination – but your members of Congress need to know you're counting on them to pass it. Contact your members of Congress now to urge them to support older workers! "You're too old – and you're fired." Outrageous, right? Unfortunately, more and more older Americans are getting that message – and others like it – from their employers. No worker deserves to be ousted from their job, passed over for promotion, or denied access to training and development opportunities because they are older. But in these tough economic times, many older workers with impressive experience can't even get an interview because of their age. Right now, Congress has a chance to help change that. A new bill in the Senate would protect older workers and provide them with ways to fight back against unfair age discrimination. But the bill won't pass without a groundswell of support – will you contact your members of Congress today to ask them to stand up for older workers? All workers should be judged on their skills and abilities, not their age. But just last year, an AARP study found that nearly 2 in every 3 workers had either seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace. Almost 20% of those surveyed said that they weren't hired for a job due to their age and nearly 10% told us they had been laid off or fired as a result of discrimination! Meanwhile, a Supreme Court ruling has made it more difficult to prove age discrimination than it is to prove discrimination based on race, religion, or gender. Discrimination based on any part of a worker's identity is wrong and unfair. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA) would help restore older workers' rights under the law – rights that were lost due to the Court's unfair ruling. The fact is that older workers have been hit particularly hard by the recession – and many Americans 50+ now need to work longer because they can't afford to retire. But the discrimination that older workers face in the job market often keeps people from the work they need. It's one of the main reasons it takes older workers almost a full year, on average, to find work. And when a worker finally does land a new job, it's often for less money, which can have a devastating impact on their ability to support their families or live independently. Vivian, passing this bill is a no-brainer – every American worker deserves to be treated fairly on the job, regardless of age. But to make sure Congress does the right thing, we need to let them know that a majority of Americans support it. Send your message today and urge your members of Congress to protect every American's right to work, no matter how old they are. With your help, we can make sure all Americans can access the financial security they deserve. Thanks for taking action at this critical time. Sincerely, Fred Griesbach AARP Campaigns AARP.ORG  |  MAKE A DONATION  |  TELL A FRIEND  |  JOIN US ON:  AARP 601 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20049

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