Some EE/FLMs in Manufacturing are in the org since early or mid 90's. Feels like a retirement home sometimes.
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When I was at Intel back through the '90s and 2000's, even back then there was a focus on age discrimination. Not because they felt that more senior engineers were losing their technical edge, but because they drew too much pay. The anecdotal rule of thumb was that the moment you sprung a gray hair you were a target. There was also a general disdain from management for what I always considered to be an unwritten role responsibility from senior technical staff....to keep stupid from happening.
Turns out that management determined that they could get a number of green engineering graduates for the cost of one senior technical person while not having to be told that a stupid idea was a stupid idea.
The company had begun rotting from it's core ever since it found huge success during the PC and Internet market explosions where the company's hiring discipline all but disappeared and they began filling the ranks of management with people who had no business being in those positions.
My sympathy to all those folks having to live with this continuing rot every day.
Here is a fact:
Most older people start to slow down, but science has shown that older people make better decisions than when they were young.
So, do you want something done quickly or correctly?
That said, there should be an age limit. If you can't afford to retire by 67, you need to go.
Remember that one day, you too, will be an older worker and at that time, you too, will see and will demonstrate the value that you bring to the workplace. Mature workers are just as competent if not more competent in navigating what must get done. Are your parents incompetent?
Age is a number. Are they competent and team players?
Are they better or worse than you?
- ) Intel lays off too many experienced engineers, losing instructional knowledge and empowering it to go to our competitors.
- ) The EEs are old.
Pick a lane.