Older women of Mumsnet: when did workplace ageism start for you?

[Arbel]

Genuinely curious. I suspect it might be earlier than I’d previously assumed (I’m nearly 40).

I’m 53: it hasn’t hurt me in my actual workplace yet but I’m sure it’s impacted my ability to look for other jobs.

It might me changing the face of sexism. So a different type of sexism.

I'm self-employed and work in an area where it shouldn't matter, but it has happened. I'm a ghostwriter so the only thing that should be relevant is whether I can write the book, but I was told in my early 40s that reality show 'celebs' wouldn't want to work with someone my age as I wouldn't really know anything about their world.

Given that I spend my days procrastinating on social media, that was very odd - but confirmed to me that I really didn't like working with them anyway!

I remember once I hit my 50s I was aware that many of my colleagues were looking obviously much younger than me. When I first started at my workplace, there were some older than me but a lot were about my age and it felt friendly and relaxed. Once I was older, I was still me, but younger colleagues didn't bother making any effort to be friendly or to chat. I suppose they didn't know what to say, and I looked like a mate of their mum's.

I remember once, a young colleague was in the staff room, so was I. I heard her say down the phone 'no one's here'. I thought 'I'M here!' It made me feel sad.

At around the same time, I noticed that some new young faces around were higher up the food chain than me, so I was getting directives from people my children's ages. I realised that I had missed the boat in terms of promotion, although I was never terribly interested. They assumed I was quite shit at my job, which wasn't very pleasant. I was actually very good at what I did. I managed to get early retirement which was quite a relief.

I went for a job a few years ago (in my mid 40s) in my smart M&S dress and longline cardi and I was met by a blue haired young woman in jeans and a nose ring and I felt ancient. Naturally I didn’t get the job and I’ve hunkered down in my current role and not ventured out ever since. I do worry if I have to go for another job my age will be against me.

I actually got a job because of my age - late 40's. My workplace has, I've noticed, only employed older women in our team since I started 2 years ago.

It's because they were hiring young ones who would take the training offered & then move on very quickly. They were just not suited to the job & bosses finally realised they needed experience & to pay full adult wages for people playing in clients finances, not stinge out on junior wages.

Just started a new job at age of 48. It's in the civil service. I feel my age equals experience and experience they need so there's no hint of ageism.

Not happened here

Where I work now, each promotion has gone to a person in their 20s or 30s. I’m not sure they are even aware that they are doing it, but it does seem as though they assume younger equals better. Of course, it may be that these people are the best for the job, but I’m watching each time to see who gets the job…

Not really happened to me (early 50s). Although I have never married or had kids so I dont think I have the kind of life experiences that are 'ageing' iykwim.

It didn’t affect me until I was made redundant at 51 and started looking g for another tole
Despite applying for jobs I could do with my eyes shut, I couldn’t even get an interview and ended up having to take a big drop in level and salary just up get a foot in the door.

I applied for around 60 jobs in an industry I’ve worked in for 30 years before i even got my first interview.

I’m 54, hasn’t happened yet

Well I was forced out of my last job at the age of 55 a year ago and my age (and the fact that my experience demanded a higher salary) definitely played a part. The job market was tough when I started looking for another job but I was lucky to find an organisation which employs a good few senior older women, who obviously value experience.

When I turned 40. I'm in IT though, which really worships youth, and tends to be sexist..!

I was head hunted at 54.

I've seriously never encountered ageism in the workplace. Some of these comments aren't actually about encountering ageism, just the posters saying things like they feel old at the side of someone with blue hair and jeans. Our digital learning manager is 41 with pink hair and doesn't feel old.

Early-mid 50s for decent paid professional work.

I'm only 47 so not yet experienced ageism. I'm in accounting where the experience is valued. If you are in a "young" industry then it's probably more pronounced.

It's also a lesson that you do have to go for things. It's no good sitting there and saying "I missed the boat for promotion". You've got to ask for what you want and be willing to work for it.

It never has.

I started getting treat differently from the day I announced I was pregnant at age 25. Was treated less favourably for sure. Ageism starts with pregnancy I think. You're deemed unreliable.

When voluntary redundancies started coming up. I had always been very cagey about my age with colleagues but suddenly everyone was trying to find out how old everyone else was, including direct questions. The assumption being that the oldest people should just clear off.

I didn’t experience ageism as such, certainly not in terms of career progression, but I noticed how young the majority of colleagues were when I was about 50.
Luckily, there was a sizeable group of the “old guard” in the organisation, so it didn’t feel too isolating socially.

This is great to see. I think and hope it is slowly catching on with employers.

I got a - big - promotion at 50, five years ago. I've not felt particularly that I've experienced ageism but it's a small office, my boss is just 40, we've just employed a new office manager who is 65 (and the most committed to social events). But there are meetings where I'm sitting with a lot of younger people as part of the bigger organisation, and I have to consciously stop my eyes rolling sometimes. So I think I'm committing age discrimination....

I got my last job and my best job in my 50s