I am 45 and the second oldest woman at my work

[TodClarty]

What about you?

I'm on the receiving end of ageism for the first time. I read about women just leaving the workplace as they get older cos they arent valued and dont fit.

(My place is an office based work where age shouldn't matter)

Can you tell us about what is happening?

Sadly, all too true.

Lots of snide comments about ageing, not knowing about IT, social media etc.

And of course the two biggest 'crimes' of all being a BB and a MiL.....

I’m in team of people where we are all fifties and sixties. It’s great. For the first time in ages I’m not experiencing ageism. We have a twenty five year old supervisor who is probably too intimidated by us to make any ageist comments

Really? In what way? I’m a similar age but have never experienced this.

We have a twenty five year old supervisor who is probably too intimidated by us to make any ageist comments

That’s ageism too

@MissMarplesGoddaughter

Sadly, all too true.

Lots of snide comments about ageing, not knowing about IT, social media etc.

And of course the two biggest 'crimes' of all being a BB and a MiL.....

What is a BB?

And also under the breath comments about being a 'block' to their career path.

Really? He knows we won’t take any shit and he has a few voiced “isms” in other areas.

@Dumbledoresgirl

A BB is a baby boomer, someone who was born between 1946 - 1964.

I always wondered what happens to women after the age of 50 in the workforce. There were very few of them in the city when we used to work in the office and I'm worried for my own future as a female employee.

[quote MissMarplesGoddaughter]@Dumbledoresgirl

A BB is a baby boomer, someone who was born between 1946 - 1964.[/quote]
Oh yes of course. I am actually one myself!

I'm in a team with women in their late 30s-50, so this isn't my experience at all (I'm 40)

Not in my job. One woman retired two years ago after 50 years of service, and one last year after 40 years. We’ve just had one retire aged 68 and one next month aged 70. We still have a few 60+ female staff working.

This is worrying! I'm 53 but don't see myself as old at all but planning on going back to employment after being self employed!

When I did work, some of my closest work colleagues were a fair bit older than me.

I'm older than you and the youngest! It varies

I'm early 40's and the youngest at my work!

I always worry about what happens to women over the age of 45ish in workplaces. I’ve worked for several different large employers and the only older women were those in super super senior positions.

Meeee! I’m the oldest and lm only 41 .

For the first time in ages I’m not experiencing ageism. We have a twenty five year old supervisor who is probably too intimidated by us to make any ageist comments

Can’t believe you are proud of bullying someone in the workplace. Hope your supervisor goes to HR so they can sack you and gets someone competent in that can do your job without bragging about intimidating people.

If you’re in your 40s you’d be one of oldest females in must companies

I remember being mid twenties and all of us were young bar owner (male) MD (male) and one non client facing female. She was only 40 and I’m older than her now

It gets a bit much. Many switch to client side as they get older too maybe partly due to feeling a bit out of it

@DayPyjamas

I always wondered what happens to women after the age of 50 in the workforce. There were very few of them in the city when we used to work in the office and I'm worried for my own future as a female employee.

I have family that work in banking and it seems when anyone turns 40, if they haven’t been promoted to a senior enough role, they leave the industry altogether. Government and energy roles tend to be popular for age appropriate roles apparently.

haven't been there in 16m so not too sure

Most recent crew in mine & adjacent office,

I'm early 50s, others were
male 1 yr younger than me
male 15 yrs younger than me
2 males about 20 yrs younger than me
F about 3 yrs older than me
M about 10 yrs older than me
M about 13 yrs older than me

there are 2000 people working there & I don't know most of them so well; I have plenty F collaborators who are 5-10+ yrs older than me

Oh no, I'm getting the frights. Been a sahm for 10 years and planning on going back to work for a change of career next year... Sounds like I'm doomed before I begin. I shall hope to find a niche. 😳

I'm one of the oldest females at 37 but my work is very male heavy

Thanks for replying.

Some of you asked what I was experiencing...

Blind belief that younger people will be better at the technical side of the job. I'm pretty tech savvy but they cant see past my age.

We are recruiting and they are talking about getting someone "young" that can bring new ideas and that we can shape. I pointed out we are mostly young team that might benefit from some experience, plus people over 30 are capable of innovating, got shot down for that.

I look for jobs and they seem written towards young people "are you ambitious and want to start your career in x". No I want to end my career in x

I just feel really out of place and trying to justify my existence all the time. I'm worried about the next 20 years of work and job hunting.