tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652172210639034854.post5009799335928074444..comments2020-06-17T22:36:05.307-07:00Comments on Detecting Performance: Of Pandemic Epidemic PortionsPerformance PIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17190221306703944113noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652172210639034854.post-9621501417237415922010-07-09T20:39:01.314-07:002010-07-09T20:39:01.314-07:00Sherrie and Ladybug, you've both got the pictu...Sherrie and Ladybug, you've both got the picture and the fact that this isn't about (necessarily) about age. Age is only a factor to the degree that time creates experiences that increase skill and knowledge. However, if the hiringe agents (HR and hiring manager) really only want a minimally qualified person, there may be a reason. <br /><br />Yes, Ladybug, I too have seen this happening for a long time. I saw it happen to friends back in the '80s. At that time I was in my 30s and they were in their 50s. The numbers were smaller because there were fewer employees already 50+ then. The majority of the workforce was 30-50 and bulky with baby boomers striving to improve themselves and their skills. It was easy to the one-off situations of letting senior employees go as an exception. <br /><br />At the time my mother, (like hers and yours, Ladybug)said that this was part of the American obsession with youth and avoidance with "age." It got me thinking... and I've seen it happen over and over for many decades. I'm not sure that her analysis is right. But what else could it be?<br /><br />Sherri pointed out that her brother(possible in his 40s and 50s) and her son and girlfriend(possibly 20s and 30s) can't find jobs that fit their skills. So.... what's it all about? <br /><br />I've been having some interesting conversations in LinkedIn with other professionals. One of these was very focused on the right for investors (shareholders) to earn a profit of their investment. He was unable to see (or at least validate) that those same investors needed employees to serve their customers and create their products. Over and over again, he reiterated that investors deserve to make a profit and that's the whole purpose of a business executive... ensuring a profit. There certainly was no sense of "what goes around comes around." <br /><br />The thing that may be interesting is that, having laid off the people who commanded the higher salaries and laid them off by the thousands, American business is now reaping the rewards of not having the purchasing power base that they have come to expect. After all, when you "senior" people have no income, they cut back on spending, lose their savings, sell their shares, lose their homes, go on welfare and basically start taking out of the economy. They have nothing to give in the way of purchasing... and businesses fail when their customer base disappears.... what goes around comes aroung. <br /><br />P.S., Sherri, I think that you know Ladybug (who is my aunt). She shared your site with me and my sister, Linda. Linda is a quilter but I love color and am an amateur artist. Thanks for commenting on my blog as well. Sorry it took me so long to respond.Performance PIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17190221306703944113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652172210639034854.post-31210254985249243012010-06-18T21:15:20.077-07:002010-06-18T21:15:20.077-07:00So right you are. I got a glimpse of this a whole ...So right you are. I got a glimpse of this a whole 13 or so years ago when, at 50+ and fresh out of extra schooling, I kept getting the run around then later learned they hired soeone with far less experience & qualifications. This happened several times & I thought "age discrimination" then, but that is hard to prove. Besides, someone desperately looking for work does not want to get sidetracked chasing wisps. What was really frustrating was when I later learned the person who was hired left for what I would call "immature" reasons and I know darn right I would have remained had I been hired. And so the whole hiring process had to be executed again. When will employers learn you get what you pay for - shorter and cheaper routes seldom pay in the long run and we all end up the poorer for it...(pun intended)Ladybughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4652172210639034854.post-43060589165282923842010-06-18T10:23:50.375-07:002010-06-18T10:23:50.375-07:00You've certainly hit the nail on the head. Thi...You've certainly hit the nail on the head. This whole situation is so absurd. I'm going to send your post to a few of my consulting friends and my overqualified engineer brother who has been working as an electrician. And my engineer son who is also underemployed and his girlfriend with the American literature degree who can't find a job other than at a tanning salon.<br /><br />p.s. Thank you for your comment on my blog today! How did you come across me? From quiltart?Sherrie Spanglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16439380401594187156noreply@blogger.com