Can I run this by you, my fellow FGB-ers?

28 Comments

1. AnonymousOctober 20,2023 at 2:50PM UTC

   It seems to be case of age-ism. I don't think you can change the course without losing the position completely. I would keep working in the entry level role with your current salary and spend any additional time you have developing in your professional. You may want a consulting job part time after you leave this organization.

2. Tammy HagerOctober 20,2023 at 3:49PM UTC

   This is truly a case of job discrimination. Not sure what advice to give you other than talk to someone in HR being in a well you love but in a bad environment is very hard. Hang in there

3. AnonymousOctober 23,2023 at 12:40PM UTC

   HR will let you go. HR is for the company, not the employee... HR is a term meant to make you feel comfortable when you really shouldn't

4. AnonymousOctober 20,2023 at 7:17PM UTC

   I'm 57 so my comments are not coming from a 20 something. I sense a bit of arrogance coming from you. Yes you have experience and probably have skills and processes that you can share but your “model” may not be as fabulous as you believe it to be. Just because other companies use it, doesn’t mean it’s the direction your company wants to go in. And don’t assume that the powers to be have no understanding of what you do, of course they do, they’re not ignorant. At your age, I suggest that you embrace less work and responsible without a pay cut and ride that out until you’re ready to retire. Many people would love to be in your position.

5. AnonymousOctober 23,2023 at 12:29PM UTC

   I think you’re confusing arrogance with self awareness. Which, apparently you seem to lack.

6. Gisele CloutierOctober 23,2023 at 6:37PM UTC

   Thank you. I am drawing from real-world facts when I say the improvements I've made for other companies really boosted their bottom line, it's not my imagination or "arrogance." I kept track of the numbers. And just for clarification, everyone, I don't have more time on my hands. I am being given all the low-level paper-pushing/administrative tasks and being taken off of responsibilities I should be holding, and have long held elsewhere, with very good results. Thank you all for your insights, much appreciated!

7. AnonymousOctober 23,2023 at 12:37PM UTC

   Facts..

8. AnonymousOctober 21,2023 at 3:20AM UTC

   If you believe you are not ever going to be offered another job and that if you are going to continue to work you must stay put then I would suggest you get very comfortable where you are. By that I mean keep your expectations the same as leadership has for you. Enjoy the utter lack of engagement, low stress and higher pay. Laugh all the way to the bank. Furthermore, develop an extremely fulfilling personal life. Use your time and freedom to your advantage. Study interesting subjects, volunteer, invest in hobbies, join groups that will add value to your life. Use this job to fund your life, your interests and connections. You don't swallow your pride, you turn this into an opportunity. Don't resign yourself to an unfilled life, instead use this job as a springboard to develop other areas of your life.It's perspective and an ambitious mindset.

9. Diane CohenOctober 23,2023 at 12:32PM UTC

   I'm 68 and don't look (or act it), I have a strong resume and I've been looking for another position for 2 years. As long as they haven't cut your salary, stay put. You can always lookmfor another position while you are there- GETTING PAID!

10. AnonymousOctober 23,2023 at 1:01PM UTC

    If your salary isn't changing and your responsibilities are now much easier and you still have insurance - then this sounds like a gift. Use the free time to level up on skills you're interested in learning, or enjoy the free time and use it to improve your work/life balance!

11. AnonymousOctober 23,2023 at 1:25PM UTC

    Consider it a soft early retirement with full pay and benefits, or a consultancy-plus. Take the win and enjoy the lighter workload while learning and doing new things YOU choose, or just take it easy. Don't let your pride block your blessing - this situation has more upside than you see now. Having a minimal-effort/maximum-paying job at age 57 was a blessing for me: I reclaimed my physical and mental health, got in shape, had some fun, and was rested up for the much-more-fulfilling/much-better-paying job that came along when I least expected. (edited for typo)

12. AnonymousOctober 24,2023 at 1:28PM UTC

    Yes, this is pretty much what I was going to say. Completely agree! Don't quit and risk not being able to get another job with benefits. Women well beyond 50 are not getting hired.

13. AnonymousOctober 23,2023 at 1:27PM UTC

    I am 67, so looking at it from someone who is the same age, maybe your ideas are not what the company was looking for, and they are giving you an easy out. Your manager even said they would understand if you decided to leave. That is not something someone would say that really wanted you to stay and work in that capacity. Please don't misunderstand me, not trying to put you down, as I don't think anyone comes to work each day thinking they want to do bad work, but things do change rapidly and sometimes those models are vastly different than something we would use even 2-3 years ago. I agree... take the slower pace position and enjoy your life. Sounds like you have earned it.

14. Kimberly McOctober 23,2023 at 3:17PM UTC

    You have 3 options here. 1) quit and look for another position2) stay and take the easy workload and 3) stay, but find a way to help/do more. im in my 50’s and i get 100% where you’re coming from. I also can’t just sit there and do nothing for half a day. I had a similar situation a few years ago - they hired me, but the truth was, other than herding cats, my position wasn’t really needed. I asked my immediate supervisor what else I should be doing and he thought what I was doing was great, so that wasn’t helpful. But I’d ask your supervisor what else you should be doing, and if there were issues with your previous contributions. Here’s what I did next: I went to all of the different groups and asked what they needed help with and went forward helping others with their workload. My position, like yours was at a level where I was able to do this on my own, and it really made a difference in the team. The other thing I did was go back to school (company funded) and work on my 3rd Masters Degree in a related field where I always wanted to delve deeper. Once I did that, the group started giving me work in that related field, so I also got real world experience while doing classes. And if I had extra time in the day I’d write up answers to my class homework at work, so all I had to do at home was type up my info and submit. Eventually I got what I needed out of them, looked for another position elsewhere and quit when I found my “dream job”. Was it an ideal situation? No. But I made it work for me. And that’s what I think you should do. Make their decisions work in your favor.

15. AnonymousOctober 23,2023 at 3:46PM UTC

    I agree with the comments about cultivating a better work/life balance and expanding your other skills. I would stay with the job. Just please keep good documentation about everything you currently do and have done for the company—also record any important updates from management about your position and responsibilities (especially because you have been kept out of the loop about certain meetings). I’m worried that someone could try to use your lighter workload to challenge your work ethic and dedication to and future at the company. I wouldn’t want you to be sideswiped. Best of luck to you!

16. AnonymousOctober 24,2023 at 12:39PM UTC

    If you get an attorney who works on commission, you have no out-of-pocket when you are let go illegally. Also, the paperwork isn't that hard. If the time hasn't expired, you should follow up on that.

17. AnonymousOctober 24,2023 at 12:49PM UTC

    I would stick with it and look for another position , try to look at this way, your getting paid the amount you need/ agreed to they did t cut salary , you will have less work to do for the same money . That’s not so bad don’t offer any of your experience or knowledge let them stumble around and just smile and have a lot less stress

    also try to have a positive attitude it a few years to find this job but that does not mean you can’t do it again start looking and relax , this really sucks and I’m so sorry they behave this way people suck and are always looking to get themselves higher than someone else they will

    most likely find as they get older they will suffer the same thing

18. BethBOctober 24,2023 at 1:11PM UTC

    It seems so disrespectful and counterintuitive, I’m sorry you are dealing with this. The good news is that they didn’t change your compensation . I know you don’t want to retire and yet if you leave this job you might not have a choice. My .02 is to ride the ride as long as it lasts. And at the same time look for a way to use your skills in another way or to develop new ones.

19. AnonymousOctober 24,2023 at 1:52PM UTC

    I dealt with something similar approximately a year ago. It has been a long, uncomfortable, sometimes angry battle. I have been continually looking for new jobs and doing lower-level work. The anger is still there, especially when I hear about the people who were hired to replace me; however, after many conversations with HR, superiors, etc., it has become clear I am not a pet employee. So, I'm focusing on the positives - I get the same pay for lower-level work, and I have less stress and fewer responsibilities. That doesn't improve what happened, but I have to find the little things. And - honestly - I have a little bit of joy when the people who are now in my position make mistakes. Not a kind thing, but a true thing.

20. Terrie McWhorterOctober 24,2023 at 2:10PM UTC

    First of all I commend you!!! I myself, am so ready to retire and find a purpose unrelated to what I have been working at all of my life. I went through something similar...others doing my job and totally discounting my experience and knowledge. Going around me and not including me. I took it to my boss. He said, "Why are you worried about it, if others want to do your job let them." WORST ADVICE EVER. I totally lost my purpose, not only at work but in life....I didn't want to get out of bed. That all being said, don't stand by and allow this, it is degrading even if they put a smile on when they do it. If the boss doesn't support you (by speaking to others on your behalf) then you need to do it and document the discussions. Set healthy boundaries, nicely. If you do decide to leave the company, know that it isn't the end of the world!! People re-invent themselves all the time. You can contract out, mentor, volunteer, start your own company...there are so many things to do. Best of luck

21. G C HesseOctober 24,2023 at 2:48PM UTC

    What is your disability exactly? That's my first question.

    If I were you and I'm 66, just do you job and be quiet, do you really want to re-invent the wheel just to prove you still have it?

    I'm a contractor and I don't want to be on board with any company, I go in do what they want and leave. I've climbed the corporate ladder, glass ceiling and all.

22. AnonymousOctober 24,2023 at 3:30PM UTC

    Stop being greedy and judgy. Pay your dues, work your way up, and quit whining.

23. AnonymousOctober 24,2023 at 3:43PM UTC

    Wow this is so harsh. You don't know this person's circumstances. Maybe she cannot afford to retire or more importantly, doesn't want to! Ageism is real and it will come for you too. Let's hope when you're 65 younger people don't say "time to retire Millennial/GenZer and let the AI do your job."

24. KathyOctober 24,2023 at 3:48PM UTC

    At this point you have extremely limited options. I would accept the low level position and hope they don't fire or lay you off. I'm sure they are hoping you will quit and solve their problems. I know the feeling of not wanting to retire. With the economy the way it is with inflation, etc. it's a bad time to retire.

    If at some point they put you on PIP and you start seeing the end in sight, attempt to negotiate a settlement package.

    As you already know age discrimination is rampat and finding another job will be difficult at best. If you do decide to look for another position I would hide your disability if possible. You don't specifically state what your disability is but I would not present it to any possible employer if at all possible.

    Good luck.

25. AnonymousOctober 24,2023 at 6:53PM UTC

    Sounds like a clear case of age discrimination- like they’re trying to get you to quit by eliminating your responsibilities. Your boss’s comments are inappropriate. Document everything, especially your conversation with your boss and hang on to it. Lay low and continue pulling in your paycheck while you talk to an employment attorney — shouldn’t cost anything to do that but when the company finally decides to offer you a package to go— you may be able to settle for a larger amount through an attorney. I’m in my mid 50’s and recently settled with my previous employer on age discrimination. I learned more than I ever wanted to know about how prevalent age discrimination really is and the various tactics companies use to push you out. Best of luck to you - you’ve obviously had a successful career and I know this is not how you’d choose to retire!

26. Bradford McCormickOctober 25,2023 at 9:32AM UTC

    Hopefuly things will work out for you. If they don't and you can pay the bills, with your apparent skills and certainly experience might you find some productive unemployment (as opposed to unproductive employment) either voluneering somewhere or adjunct teaching in a junior college or something like that?

    I worked in a big tech company and they had a reduction in force. To prove it wasn't age discrimination they sent out an age distribution sheet. Well, I (male) was the oldest but not exactly the most valuable. but the second oldest (over 70) was a woman whom the company had given the designation which, not their words, meant: exalted engineer. They must have had too much expertise on the staff or maybe she was earning a lot? But with that title she could hardly have been dead wood.

27. AnonymousOctober 25,2023 at 4:58PM UTC

    I appreciate everyone's feedback! For clarification, besides the age, I am disabled and unable to walk, stand or drive, so I honestly believe my next-job - even volunteer/hobby retirement - options are pretty limited. (One person said I should not mention my disability while job-hunting - I think I do need prospective employers know I have to be 100% remote - that means no in-person interviews either.) Thanks again!

28. AnonymousOctober 26,2023 at 2:02PM UTC

    Good morning. Sorry to hear about your situation. My children have epilepsy and have been helped find employment with organizations that help facilitate employment for people with disabilities. Maybe you could hook up with one of those organizations?

    I do not have a disability but work for a male-dominated company where the women over 40 are not treated very well, so feel your pain on that part.