Fired After 50, Part I: What It's Like To Be A Statistic - Page 2

I am proud of you girl!!!! Keep up the positive attitude!!!

My father works in the grocery business as a manager of a store. He was telling me and my grandfather a couple of days ago that his company are just "letting people go" as they do. But what is odd is that it is not just people that should be "let go" because the company can't handle them anymore. It is people in their early 50's that are mysteriously being "let go".

My dad actually told us about a case where a fellow colleague was "let go" for no real reason. This friend was 2 years away from full retirement with his pension and all that good stuff. Then the DM (District Manager) pretty much told him to leave. Can you believe that? 2 years away from a great retirement, and he already had 25+ years with the company?! My dad believes that it is because companies no longer want to offer pension plans for employees. He tells me that we will see more and more companies no longer offering pensions, or matching for 401k.

So I am very sorry about your situation. I am 19 and I fear for a situation similar to yours. No one can hold a job in our current state. So I hope that you don't feel like this is all on you. You seem like an honest hard worker (lifting 300lb's? Wow, that is more than half of my weight! I could never do that! So kudos on that!), so it really can't feel good to be a statistic.

But on the bright side, like you said, you have your education and acquired skills that no one can take away from you (until a virus eats at your brain, ha, just kidding). And nurses in various areas in America are in high demand. I know that you will take advantage that you have some supply in a low supply/high demand area. You are definitely worth something!

I hope everything works out to your benefit

PS: You are the first person or anything that I've posted to on allnurses.com! So maybe that will brighten your day...or maybe make it worse (lol, I hope not though).

Well, it's depressing, if not recessing. Recession is defined as a "going back; withdrawal"; and "a temporary falling off of business activity".

16 years ago, my own recession started, and I was very depressed, yet impelled by the same factors Marla mentioned, to get back to employment because that's what I thought defined me. The steps it has taken me are similar if not the same as those Dr. Elizabeth Kubler Ross described as being those defining the reactions of grief.

Shock manifested as disbelief/denial and blaming others was the angry part. Depression certainly was familiar and exceeded that which I'd known before, and acceptance was a long time coming. As I took job after job after 8 jobs that terminated in similar fashion, I learned of insurance companies' practises that make it financially necessary for employers to fire those who are older than 55 years of age (I've related that phenomenon ad nauseum, I think in other threads).

Now I am well above retirement age and still peruse want ads and online employment opportunities, though with less franticness now that I've been humbled into applying for food "stamps" and more medical coverage than Medicare provides. Volunteerism isn't new to me and that provides a sense that I'm "giving back", if not "Paying it forward" in my community. I'm also able to influence the politics of our country through participating with Obama's "Organising for America" groups and I work with "phone" banks to campaign for Democratic Party politicians so that the ground won in the Reform of Health Care and Insurance will not be lost, and financial reform as well will succeed.

Those are heady experiences and consume much of my time. While I haven't fully reached "acceptance", I'm aiming for more of that while working toward maintaining programs that allow better nutrition and employment of seniors. The former is achieved by a group in Santa Cruz called "Grey Bears" that has as its objective: "Seniors helping Seniors, so no one is hungry". The donations of fresh (and occasionally canned) food by growers, supermarkets, and other manufacturers in the food chain, are put in grocery bags twice weekly by volunteers in assembly line activities; and then volunteer drivers pick them up to distribute to homes and distribution points (usually churches) throughout the county. It is a great organization that also has IT types accepting used computors that are fixed, updated and resold by them, and a gift shop benefiting the organization.

"Profiles" is a group for professionals that formed as an offshoot of the national Employment and Rehabilitation agency formerly known as the "Unemployment" federal program. That "club" was formed first as a resource for the demise of many "Silicon Valley" companies and has continued with great morale raising classes and employmemt resources that match those who participate in it. There are many computers to use there for any need, in a large room provided at the Employment offices, and classes therein to develop greater computer skills. Seasonal parties are enjoyable and provide future friendships to develop when occupational ones are lost. I recommend involvement with that, highly. Any professional who is unemployed is eligible to join.

Ah, thank you so much. You made my day by me making your day, ha...

Now I just have to learn this emoticon thing (I generally don't go outside of happy faces).

I became unemployed very unexpectedly in February at the age of 52. I am pleased to report that I found a better job which resulted in a better life. There is hope that something good will come of your unfortunate situation. Best wishes for a good future.

Diana

I can't tell you what it is like to be fired at age 51 but I can at age 55. Yes, fired, female, single, Registered Nurse. This is just about the worse I can imagine (other than losing family) I admire your strength and courage.

just looking for a little kindness while I walk the journey

Yes, Marla, I have been there and done that, twice actually. My story is somewhat similar to yours: I'd worked in an LTC for almost two years, receiving two promotions during that time. Then, last September, I was mysteriously fired for "not meeting requirements of leadership". I was 50 then, and finally found a job after 2 1/2 months in another state. Several friends from that employer confirmed that there was a conspiracy between two other managers to get me fired.

Fast forward to a position as House Supervisor (turned 51 while there) for not even two months: I got fired AGAIN! I couldn't even get per diem work for weeks. And, like you, I didn't want to (nor did I imagine myself needing) to apply for any government programs.

My faith (I am also a Christian) was a big plus, along with family and friends praying for me. I was on several job boards, too. I was blessed in March to get hired as a full-time float pool nurse. I LOVE it!

I enjoyed reading your story. I pray that your interview next week goes well and you are hired for the position.