Are you on the scrap heap after 40 ?

[buggerlugs]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/q...ac54f81042bf59
Some interesting stories in the comments section............

[Franco Cozzo]

You go on the scrap heap when you turn 18 if you work at Supermarkets or fast food

This is something we considered if we want to expand our business, there are a few good mechanics we know but they're all in their late 40s mid 50s who we are considering.

But the issue is someone who is in that age bracket isn't going to take orders nicely from a bunch of dudes in their mid 20s, they seem to get offended pretty quickly if you tell them what to do.

They probably prefer younger workers because they can be bullied easier

[GasoLane]

Ah the joys of being a Truck Driver. Most Transport companies would rather employ someone over 40 due to their experience in the game.

I Recently decided to go back on the road, as retirement was getting boring and the extra cash is always handy.

Of the employers I've spoken to lately a couple have said 'well, if you've been driving interstate for 40+ years and your still alive you must be doing something right'

[cs123]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

But the issue is someone who is in that age bracket isn't going to take orders nicely from a bunch of dudes in their mid 20s, they seem to get offended pretty quickly if you tell them what to do.

Two way street Damo. Someone in the 40s,50s should just be need to told the job that needs doing and they should be able to do it to a correct standard. If they can't move them on, if they can don't look over their shoulder and tell them what to do. You employ a experienced tradesman for their experience.

[2011G6E]

I drive trains and in this industry the average age seems to be pretty damn high as well. I didn't join until I was in my forties. Plenty of guys hang on well up to and over retirement age...after all it's not like it's a physically hard job.

They're trying to attract young people...primarily women, I had a trainee who was a young woman recently...but I hear a lot of them saying they "probably won't stay in the job forever". The typical young workers "need" to always be moving on, always be looking for new "challenges"...they don't stick in the one job for decades like us older workers do.
They also seem to have a problem with the job itself...to be blunt there's an awful lot of sitting on your backside in this job. Turn up, sit and wait for your train, hop on the train, sit there in the chair for eight to ten hours, get off go home. Despite the money (and it's good) they say things like "I can't see myself doing this in five years time".

These damn young whipper-snappers just have to learn to develop a capacity for sitting on their bums and doing nothing for long periods of time...a skill us older workers come to appreciate having as the years roll on...

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by cs123

Two way street Damo. Someone in the 40s,50s should just be need to told the job that needs doing and they should be able to do it to a correct standard. If they can't move them on, if they can don't look over their shoulder and tell them what to do. You employ a experienced tradesman for their experience.

They can do the work, thats not the problem, its up to them how to do it.

But they seem to have a problem with wearing uniform and cleaning up after themselves, any sort of process that's not 'bobs ol time garage', say filling in time sheets, writing down what they find on job cards etc, putting guard covers on, seems to be a huge issue.

The moment you try introduce something new its the end of the world because 'I've been doing this for 30 years' etc.

[damo76]

Im 38 and i'm on the scrap heap. I was told 2 weeks ago no to a job because of my weight, she said the company doesn't want anyone over 110kgs.
I can't get a job for the life of me, even scraping the barrel i applied for coles and bunnings and they won't employ me either.
I don't know what to do, i don't have a lot of money to go buy heaps of tickets, though i have a few.

There is another bloke here in Bunbury who has to travel to Perth everyday doing traffic control because that is all he can get, he is just over 40.

Oh well looks like i'm going to spend all day on the motorbike

[Sox]

That's life for ya, the older we get the stupider we get.
I don't care, so long as I'm enjoying my stupidity.

[TheSneakiness]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

I drive trains and in this industry the average age seems to be pretty damn high as well. I didn't join until I was in my forties. Plenty of guys hang on well up to and over retirement age...after all it's not like it's a physically hard job.

They're trying to attract young people...primarily women, I had a trainee who was a young woman recently...but I hear a lot of them saying they "probably won't stay in the job forever". The typical young workers "need" to always be moving on, always be looking for new "challenges"...they don't stick in the one job for decades like us older workers do.
They also seem to have a problem with the job itself...to be blunt there's an awful lot of sitting on your backside in this job. Turn up, sit and wait for your train, hop on the train, sit there in the chair for eight to ten hours, get off go home. Despite the money (and it's good) they say things like "I can't see myself doing this in five years time".

These damn young whipper-snappers just have to learn to develop a capacity for sitting on their bums and doing nothing for long periods of time...a skill us older workers come to appreciate having as the years roll on...

Need details to be employed by your company. And I'm serious.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by damo76

I don't know what to do

Are you 110kg because you're built like a strongman competitor, or because you're overweight? If the latter, isn't it obvious what you need to do? Just sayin...

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

They can do the work, thats not the problem, its up to them how to do it.

But they seem to have a problem with wearing uniform and cleaning up after themselves, any sort of process that's not 'bobs ol time garage', say filling in time sheets, writing down what they find on job cards etc, putting guard covers on, seems to be a huge issue.

The moment you try introduce something new its the end of the world because 'I've been doing this for 30 years' etc.

Your house, your rules. If you lay out the ground rules from the get go, it makes it harder for them to ***** later when you try and enforce them.

[damo76]

Originally Posted by b0son

Are you 110kg because you're built like a strongman competitor, or because you're overweight? If the latter, isn't it obvious what you need to do? Just sayin...

Well spent most of my life working on drill rigs, 1 leg is 80cm round and arm is 47cm round, i could run a rig solo and had the strongest hands in Newman.
I have muscle and no problem labouring just put some pud on my guts but no i'm morbidly obese. Even though I can out work anyone.

[Pedro]

Originally Posted by damo76

Im 38 and i'm on the scrap heap. I was told 2 weeks ago no to a job because of my weight, she said the company doesn't want anyone over 110kgs.I can't get a job for the life of me, even scraping the barrel i applied for coles and bunnings and they won't employ me either.
I don't know what to do, i don't have a lot of money to go buy heaps of tickets, though i have a few.

There is another bloke here in Bunbury who has to travel to Perth everyday doing traffic control because that is all he can get, he is just over 40.

Oh well looks like i'm going to spend all day on the motorbike

Under Australian Federal law you can't be sacked due to being "overweight".
Go to this WA website and file a complaint ... http://www.eoc.wa.gov.au/

[XG_Falcon]

I can see both sides of the argument here:
If a business is specifically looking for somebody for their physical attributes, it will almost always work out better hiring a younger person, however,
if the position is experience oriented, it will usually make more sense to hire an older person.

The only thing is - experience accrues over time whereas the physical form degrades... so as far as long term investments go, it makes more sense (in my mind) to go for the younger stock.

[rst2000]

Originally Posted by Pedro

Under Australian Federal law you can't be sacked due to being "overweight".
Go to this WA website and file a complaint ... http://www.eoc.wa.gov.au/

He wasn't sacked because of weight, he was applying for a position...

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by XG_Falcon

If a business is specifically looking for somebody for their physical attributes, it will almost always work out better hiring a younger person, however,
if the position is experience oriented, it will usually make more sense to hire an older person.

The problem, as I see it, is that most 'younger people' these days don't want to stay in a job for too long.

Just long enough to add it to their CV and then move on.

[99AUXR]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

They can do the work, thats not the problem, its up to them how to do it.

But they seem to have a problem with wearing uniform and cleaning up after themselves, any sort of process that's not 'bobs ol time garage', say filling in time sheets, writing down what they find on job cards etc, putting guard covers on, seems to be a huge issue.

The moment you try introduce something new its the end of the world because 'I've been doing this for 30 years' etc.

These are the two issues I have with 'more experienced' people in the workplace.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

They can do the work, thats not the problem, its up to them how to do it.

But they seem to have a problem with wearing uniform and cleaning up after themselves, any sort of process that's not 'bobs ol time garage', say filling in time sheets, writing down what they find on job cards etc, putting guard covers on, seems to be a huge issue.

The moment you try introduce something new its the end of the world because 'I've been doing this for 30 years' etc.

you need to take on a next gen apprentice for moments of fu entitlements

get off your fn ph is a minor diversion

*get back to me

[Feathers]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Ah the joys of being a Truck Driver. Most Transport companies would rather employ someone over 40 due to their experience in the game.

I Recently decided to go back on the road, as retirement was getting boring and the extra cash is always handy.

Of the employers I've spoken to lately a couple have said 'well, if you've been driving interstate for 40+ years and your still alive you must be doing something right'

We do this looking for bus drivers too. We're very clear in our ads what we're looking for, and who the job might suit, but we constantly get idiots that aren't qualified calling up.
Or we get them out to go for a drive with us, and then find they can't drive a manual. It's getting to the point we will have to start swapping to autos. Also, we only need casuals, as there isn't enough work for full-time, and anyone younger is just going to be too hungry for $$$ to pay their bills.

Originally Posted by damo76

Im 38 and i'm on the scrap heap. I was told 2 weeks ago no to a job because of my weight, she said the company doesn't want anyone over 110kgs.

I know in my industry at least there is a similar rule, because the driver's seats are only rated to hold 110kg. Any more, and in the event of an accident where the seat collapses, the insurer won't cover you for injury. It's happened. I believe companies with drivers who are effected by that are being given gym memberships.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Feathers

Or we get them out to go for a drive with us, and then find they can't drive a manual. It's getting to the point we will have to start swapping to autos.

Or you find that they can only use synchro box's and not a Roadranger/Spicer

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

you need to take on a next gen apprentice for moments of fu entitlements

get off your fn ph is a minor diversion

*get back to me

I've got a 15 year old clean up kid doing some stuff for me from time to time.

Calls it quits when I start cracking the whip

But we can mold this kid how we want him to be.

He comes in after school wearing boots and hi vis polo, its a start.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by 99AUXR

These are the two issues I have with 'more experienced' people in the workplace.

We get some cars passed onto us from some of the older local mechanics and we've gotta wipe off their grubby finger prints when we get the car before we pass it onto the customer.

Its all small things like that, seems to be the local small workshop crew who do this stuff, people who come from dealerships would get their *** handed to them for something like that.

I used to get in **** for my shirt not being tucked in.

[Syndrome]

I knew I was on the scrap heap as soon as I realised I had become invisible to the PYT.............

[ebxr8240]

hope not I'm 22 years a head of you..

[Pedro]

Originally Posted by rst2000

He wasn't sacked because of weight, he was applying for a position...

OK, but I think the same applies and comes under the anti-discrimination legislation.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Correct. Silly thing for them to say!

There's plenty of industries that relied on aged workers because they are the ones with all the skill.

[matador]

depending on the job applied for. Applying for an entry lvel job at age 40 says you are a drifter.

You should be somewhere up the food chain by 40 I would imagine.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by matador

Applying for an entry lvel job at age 40 says you are a drifter.

Or you could have......
Been retrenched due to management cutting staff.
Worked for any one of the 3 car companies currently in the process of closing.
Been in the mining industry during recent years.

[DJR MAN]

I'm on the scrap heap for sure.
30 years for the same company, over 35 in the industry.
Can't get any higher than supervisor.
I've had 3 pay rises in 7 years, 2 pay cuts and 2 with no movement. Had performance issues alleged against me etc... all pretty much witch hunt sort of stuff, (don't have a boss less smarter than you could be the secret). Mind you, prior to the last 7 years, an impeccable work record, almost never took a sickie ever.
I'm just over 50 years old, and all the bosses I had that actually know me have either died, retired or made redundant. I have bosses now that don't care what I've done or what I know etc.... just arrogant people, but if anyone wants to know how to do something, they come my way and I always help. If a job had to be done and you needed someone to stay until its finished or go to location to fix a machine I'd be there, always dependable, and somehow thought that this work ethic would help me climb the ladder.
How mistaken have I been.
Now the word being peddled is that "you are in control of your destiny, not anyone else", with the hidden message being "if you don't like what we let you do here you can leave".
Then they turn around and say that we treat everyone with dignity and respect, and rattle off a heap of other ideals that sound good on paper but are not being followed through, that is , unless it suits them at any random time.

If you are overweight, older than the boss / management, don't do all the corporate community volunteer stuff and not good at playing the social game, you will be overlooked.

"Oh the games people play now
Every night and every day now,
Never mean what they say now
Never say what they mean".


Excuse the rant, thanks for the vent!

[CoupeKing]

Depending on peoples circumstances there are options.

Police force recruit people in their 50's, just get your BMI index under 30, once accepted just go back to eating normally.

Customs Officer?

You may have to relocate to better your chances of landing work.

Can you cook? Have a specialty dish? - Just Food Vans in general.

Part time work/study online. - Anything to do with counter-terrorism or drones. DRONE pilot courses are out there.