Occasionally the problem of ‘ageism’ at work is highlighted in the media – often when the Government makes noises about it but then does nothing.
When I lost a job to redundancy this time last year it was only in my worst nightmares that I could envisage still being out of work now, given that Ihave 20 years experience of aviation and tourism. It is all the more galling to know that I am not alone either. An entire generation is being laid to waste by people who will face the same scenario when the day comes that they themselves are ‘superfluous to requirements’. The whole process is self-perpetuating.
Recently a northern European airline had two job vacancies and several hundred applications. They drew a line through all letters from those over the age of 35 – people with 30 years to go before retirement. I am now seeking the view of the prime minister, who has stated his objections to such practices.
Iam far from being anti-youth, many of my associates are young people under 25. I have always believed that there are different jobs for different people at different stages of life. Imix widely with unemployed people, mainly redundant executives, and it is clear that although ageism is rampant in society, it is notably in the leisure sector and especially tourism, where these practices are paramount.
The tourism industry is in for a merciless pounding over the next few years from the general public, who, courtesy of TV and other media will soon know more about destinations and transport than those who are supposed to give them advice. I fear much of the work currently undertaken by younger people will then become redundant. But there will be no core of more experienced staff to call on – they will have called it a day long before then.
David Bentley, Oldham, Greater Manchester