Fired After 50, Part I: What It's Like To Be A Statistic
First in a series about a nurse (me) who finds herself suddenly unemployed at age 51 and learns she is part of an alarming trend of American workers who are losing their jobs at midlife and beyond. This is a story about the new "midlife crisis", the lessons learned during the transition process, and ultimately, starting all over again at a time of life when I'd once hoped I'd get to throttle back and cruise into retirement.
Hello. My name is Marla and I'm an unemployed nurse.
There, I said it. Now's the time when everyone's supposed to shout "HI, MARLA!" and applaud. Oh, wait---that was AA, circa 1992. Oops. *blushes*
I've talked about this revolting development here on my blog before, but I had never actually felt embarrassed about it until two days ago, when I received my first unemployment benefits check. What a humbling experience that was! Even though I haven't worked since mid-June and needed the money desperately, it hurt my pride to walk into the bank and deposit a government check into my account. I swore that once I left welfare (now sixteen years ago) that I would never again darken the door of any government office until it was time to apply for Social Security. And until I lost my nursing-home job thanks to a deadly combination of a lousy economy, chronic low census, and degenerative joint problems, I had never needed to.
I've been in between jobs before, but there was always another job just around the corner......I wasn't "out of work", and I certainly didn't need to rely on public largesse to keep a roof over my family's heads during the brief interludes between the end of one job and the beginning of another. But the plain truth is---even if it's not really my fault---I AM unemployed, and the prospects for finding even a temporary position till I land my next 'real' job are few and far between.
Ironically, a temporary position was all I was looking for when I found this last job as a 3-11 charge nurse on a long-term care unit. I'd just come from a bruising experience working with an administrator whose passive-aggressive approach to work nearly separated me from my sanity; all I wanted was a job where I could hide out for awhile and nurse my wounds while still being able to eat and pay bills in the same month. In the process, I found redemption for previous career mistakes, right there in that old LTC........and even after almost two years, the old yearnings for money and power hadn't returned.
Well, fate is indeed a fickle creature, and thanks to the aforementioned trifecta of misfortune, I now find myself part of a growing---and alarming---trend in which many older Americans are being "Fired After Fifty", as AARP recently called it in a piece they did on the subject. No, we're not necessarily being hauled into the boss's office and told "don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya"; but whether it's described as getting fired, losing one's job, or being laid off/let go/shown the door/downsized/outsourced/cut back/restructured/fill in the politically correct blank, the result is the same: we are out of a job. And Lord help us in finding another one.........few companies want to hire in uncertain times, and fewer still are willing to take on, ahem, experienced workers who tend to cost more in terms of salary and benefits than their younger counterparts.
I have become something I never thought I'd be in a million years: just another statistic.
That said, I am oddly optimistic about my future, even though I'm what you might call damaged goods. I may have a case of advancing age, but I still have the education and knowledge that no one can ever take away from me. My body may be in a state of dilapidation that precludes any job requiring physical stamina, but I'm comfortable in my own skin, I can still do what I need to do to get through the day, and frankly, I think I've lifted as many 300-pounders and run as many halls as I should ever have to. (Nor is my overweight state solely to blame for it; I hear complaints all the time from fellow midlifers who are thin and fit, and yet have knee and hip problems and backaches that are as bad, if not worse than my own.) I'm also fairly intelligent, I learn things quickly, I get along with just about everyone, and I'm willing to try new things......what else could an employer possibly want, right?
We shall see, in any event. I've gotten some nibbles from the twenty or so applications and resumes I've sent out, and the interviews have now begun. Today's was interesting, especially in light of the fact that I am directionally dyslexic........and the job involves extensive in-state travel........and I got lost trying to find headquarters. Stay tuned!
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.
Specializes in Certified Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurse.
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.
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.
Marla I wish I had your guts. After rupturing 3 disks and having my manager put me on FMLA without permission so my sick leave would run out so she could fire me,
I also had to have a pacemaker & several back procedures, I got fed up and got a lawyer. I was 55 and wanted to work til I was close to 70. No one wants a damaged nurse, so my lawyers said first go for workers comp. Boss lady lied through her teeth. I got it.
Then he said go for SS disability an believe it or not I got it first try.
Third he said go for medical disability with the retirement system, they fought tooth and nail. Finally because they had never officially on paper terminated me, I got that too. SS disability at any age for an educated person like a nurse is full pay as if you were 65. Then when you reach your retirement age which will probably be about 67 for you it turns to plain old SS retirement. You may then return to any kind of work without the dollar for dollar thing. All of these programs are FOR you. You can drop out if you get a job. You can turn them down. BUT they are there for people like us. I am sorry you got pooped on. It happens and I guess we should all expect it and carry an umbrella.
How about fired at age 60? I was, not long ago, and am still unemployed, and waiting for unemployment checks. No, there is very little respect for experience. Especially if most of your experience was in another part of the country, not local. So you do things differently from your peers, and they say you're just old and way out of date. Even when you're willing to learn new techniques, employers don't want to "waste" money on you. I also have obesity, arthritis, and herniated discs. So I don't move around as fast as I used to.
I'm taking this time to address my own needs and health problems. But without good, recent references, I doubt that I will be able to get a decent nursing job again. I feel "washed-up" and am considering going on disability. Even teaching or some other less physically demanding job won't happen, thanks to my now destroyed reputation. Yes, they do talk. After nearly 40 years of nursing, this is my reward. And nobody gives a rat's rump.
I know - I could be a WalMart greeter! (nothing against those greeters - maybe they've got the right idea; a non-demanding job.) According to two of my former peers, I am totally bereft of nursing knowledge.:icon_roll For the love of Pete - why don't we nurses take care of each other, instead of tearing each other down?
Sorry - just had to vent. This is the first nurse community I've found where nurses actually support each other. Thank you for being here.:hug:
noreenl
325 Posts
I am proud of you girl!!!! Keep up the positive attitude!!!:hug::flwrhrts::anpom: