I’ve watched far too many older coworkers (people with decades of experience) get shown the door during reorganizations, only to be replaced with younger, cheaper hires. The age discrimination isn’t always blatant, but it’s absolutely real. Severance packages are dangled in front of you, but only if you agree not to pursue legal action, which feels like hush money for ageism. It’s a cost-cutting strategy dressed up as restructuring, and it’s demoralizing for those of us who’ve committed most of our careers to AEP. We’re not just losing jobs, we’re losing the dignity we earned.
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Ageism is alive and thriving at AEP. The most vulnerable seem to be those of us who are 60+.
I've seen this a lot - instead of offering training and a little patience to keep an employee with legacy knowledge (and face it, most older folks have less distractions), many departments in many industries rather hirer younger generations. And they younger folks are not always hired at a cheaper salary. Its very concerning that the life spans are expanding but when you turn 62-65, you may not have an option to stay at your current job. Most states are "at will" employers. Employers don't need a reason to let you go. Its hard to prove age discrimination and even harder to get a good attorney to take your case (unless you make an executive's salary, stock benefits, etc.) There are still some benefits to unions and maybe its time we have more of them again. We wouldn't have worker's comp, disability, fare wages and health insurance benefits without unions. Unemployment laws might vary, but if you were not negligent and you abide by the rules, employers should not be able to fight it (unless you quit - don't quit!)
The virtue-less profit from extorting the virtuous because they know the virtuous have the morals, ethics and discipline not to behave like the virtue-less. One can only hope their punishment will come from the hand of GOD and not someone, who lowered themselves to behave like the virtue-less, thus succumbing to their corporate cesspool su-k. Might explain the odious stench in the building.
@br+1jyer4ntd This is the answer. Consult your attorney about this extensively.
It's best to ask an attorney those types of questions. There are employment laws at both the federal and state level. If you are denied a severance and are over the age of 40, you should lawyer up. Not sure if it's at the federal level, but I think Virginia law considers anyone over 40 a protected class. Most people have heard 55 years old as being the start of protected status, but it may be lower in your state. It's perfectly OK to find a lawyer to help explain to AEP they are wrong if that is what you believe. Employment laws exist to protect workers, shame on a company that breaks those laws.
I'm almost 50, and already prepared to be handed a pink slip any day. Seen it too many times around me to know its almost certain.
@OP Totally agree. I saw someone with 30 years in get let go, then their job was posted two weeks later as an “entry-level opportunity.” It’s disgusting.
isn't that a federal law violation? them making us sign that kind of a waiver in order to get severance? can they get sued for that?