Sixty and invisible

[RayinPenn]

About six months ago my boss and were transferred to another manager 'Sally'. Sally is located in a nearby state. At the time of our transfer I told my boss that I'd be willing to help with any technology initiatives Sally has. (I'm a techie) Sally stopped by the office about a month or two after we joined newly formed group. She did not introduce herself or stop by - "the day got away from me" is what she said in an email. This past week I heard unofficially that she hired two technology people. It is funny because the particular area of technology she is pursuing I've had success at. It got me to pondering I've been with Sally for 6 months and have never spoken directly to her. I've never attended or know of any staff meetings.

I probably wouldn't have been interested in the job - (my boss is great)but never speaking to me when you have a staff of three including me? Yikes.

I can't help but wonder if being 60 could be the issue... We old guys aren't supposed to be technologically proficient or a perhaps they see me as a retirement time bomb?

I am a bit peeved and disappointed about the situation but wonder should I care? I dropped the old boss a note explained my concerns and asked to return to her organization when our current project is over?

[Bogie Shooter]

Bringing your resume up to date is probably in order.:sad:

[Indydealmaker]

About six months ago my boss and were transferred to another manager 'Sally'. Sally is located in a nearby state. At the time of our transfer I told my boss that I'd be willing to help with any technology initiatives Sally has. (I'm a techie) Sally stopped by the office about a month or two after we joined newly formed group. She did not introduce herself or stop by - "the day got away from me" is what she said in an email. This past week I heard unofficially that she hired two technology people. It is funny because the particular area of technology she is pursuing I've had success at. It got me to pondering I've been with Sally for 6 months and have never spoken directly to her. I've never attended or know of any staff meetings.

I probably wouldn't have been interested in the job - (my boss is great)but never speaking to me when you have a staff of three including me? Yikes.

I can't help but wonder if being 60 could be the issue... We old guys aren't supposed to be technologically proficient or a perhaps they see me as a retirement time bomb?

I am a bit peeved and disappointed about the situation but wonder should I care? I dropped the old boss a note explained my concerns and asked to return to her organization when our current project is over?

What you are experiencing is a significant trend across this country in large corporations. Executives are placing more importance on degrees than actual experience or a proven ability to manage people. A significant percentage of middle management are simply warm bodies with a "rabbi".

After a few years of this, the entire executive ranks, top to bottom, are occupied by empty shells with management titles. MBA schools preach that you do not need to have been "on the street" to manage a company, any company. Consequently, thousands of companies are lead by men and women who have never worked in manufacturing, retail etc. This management fallacy is a major contributor to our nationwide employee malaise and stress.

[rubicon]

What you are experiencing is a significant trend across this country in large corporations. Executives are placing more importance on degrees than actual experience or a proven ability to manage people. A significant percentage of middle management are simply warm bodies with a "rabbi".

After a few years of this, the entire executive ranks, top to bottom, are occupied by empty shells with management titles. MBA schools preach that you do not need to have been "on the street" to manage a company, any company. Consequently, thousands of companies are lead by men and women who have never worked in manufacturing, retail etc. This management fallacy is a major contributor to our nationwide employee malaise and stress.

Indy: My corporation hired freshly graduated MBA/PHD to our HR Department. I was a HR guy in field operations. The company concluded that these guys needed help so they would parachute me in to Home Office to spent three weeks stents on various projects sharing with them the realities of the real world. These guys were brilliant but did not understand the affect their policies would have on operations...pretty much like the affect that government regulations have on businesses.

[Chi-Town]

Ray, last month you started the thread "Office turmoil" and now "Sixty and invisible". It's sad that for so many their last working years are the least fun. This is not a new trend.

[Madelaine Amee]

About six months ago my boss and were transferred to another manager 'Sally'. Sally is located in a nearby state. At the time of our transfer I told my boss that I'd be willing to help with any technology initiatives Sally has. (I'm a techie) Sally stopped by the office about a month or two after we joined newly formed group. She did not introduce herself or stop by - "the day got away from me" is what she said in an email. This past week I heard unofficially that she hired two technology people. It is funny because the particular area of technology she is pursuing I've had success at. It got me to pondering I've been with Sally for 6 months and have never spoken directly to her. I've never attended or know of any staff meetings.

I probably wouldn't have been interested in the job - (my boss is great)but never speaking to me when you have a staff of three including me? Yikes.

I can't help but wonder if being 60 could be the issue... We old guys aren't supposed to be technologically proficient or a perhaps they see me as a retirement time bomb?

I am a bit peeved and disappointed about the situation but wonder should I care? I dropped the old boss a note explained my concerns and asked to return to her organization when our current project is over?

I was in the corporate office when women were being hired into the upper levels of management. They had a dreadful time and had to prove their worth far more than a man with the same qualifications, which makes me think your (problem boss) is surrounding herself with people she assumes will be loyal to her and support her ambitions, rather than have your loyalty be with your prior supervisor.

My advice (if I may) is to just lay low, do your excellent job and wait for her to recognize that you actually do know what you are doing, and also know the company politics more than the newbies she has chosen.

I hope this works out for you - nothing worse than being absolutely miserable and just turning up for work each day waiting for retirement!

[2BNTV]

Myself and several of my friends have experienced an age bias in the computer industry by younger techies. They didn't want to get along with the older workers.

The ones I ran into, knew it all, and had no use if someone asked a question. They viewed people who were in their 50's and 60's as outcast.

Not like the old days when older workers trained younger workers, in various skills. My friend has experienced younger workers, who don't have any social skills, and treat him like an outcast. It's their loss.

Everyone just wants to make a living with as few hassles, as possible. It's sad that older workers are being forced out, before they reach retirement in some cases.

You know what they say, "what goes around comes around".

[Madelaine Amee]

Myself and several of my friends have experienced an age bias in the computer industry by younger techies. They didn't want to get along with the older workers.

The ones I ran into, knew it all, and had no use if someone asked a question. They viewed people who were in their 50's and 60's as outcast.

Not like the old days when older workers trained younger workers, in various skills. My friend has experienced younger workers, who don't have any social skills, and treat him like an outcast. It's their loss.

Everyone just wants to make a living with as few hassles, as possible. It's sad that older workers are being forced out, before they reach retirement in some cases.

You know what they say, "what goes around comes around".

Unfortunately, I had to be present at several "layoff" meetings. At one there was an older man in an overall, quiet and kind of gentle man. The "Advisor" at this meeting asked him what he did - "I take care of all the machines in the machine shop. I oil them, I repair them, I keep them running." "How long have you done this?. "Oh about 30 years." "How do you manage to keep the machines current?" "Oh, I have a little book with all the information in it." She asked if she could see the book, she flipped through the pages of this small spiral bound note pad and handed it back to him. "Go home and burn this, they don't deserve you. There is no one else who will come in here and care for their machinery the way you have."

[pbkmaine]

Sally could be a classic introvert with no management skills. She might be assuming that you are happy as a clam doing what you are doing. She could be so busy putting out fires that she doesn't think to take time for someone who is not actively complaining. The thing is, you will never know what her deal is until you go and talk to her. Show enthusiasm. Ask what you can do to help her. Do not wait for her to recognize you. I have been in similar situations and wondered what was wrong with me. It was never me. It was always something going on at the company I was unaware of. It wasn't until I took action myself to remedy the situations that things improved.

[Uptown Girl]

My daughter, who was in her 30's, got hired by a well known movie company in California.
They assigned her her own parking space.

Six months later, she left to join a smaller film company. Reason?
Every day her car got towed and left outside the premises.
Although she was kept very busy and worked in a 4 person group on a major project, after 6 months, her direct boss (a female) praised her, but still could not remember her name.

My daughter decided she'd rather be a little bigger fish in a little smaller pond.

[RayinPenn]

Ray, last month you started the thread "Office turmoil" and now "Sixty and invisible". It's sad that for so many their last working years are the least fun. This is not a new trend.

They spoke to the problem guy and he has been as nice as can be...

[tcxr750]

There is truth in what you speak. I worked at a major telecommunications company for 30years. Managers came up through the ranks and knew what the technicians were doing and managed accordingly. I retired and four years later came back to a similar job. The first line managers had degrees but zero job knowledge. The management style tended to be "I'm right and you're wrong, take it or leave it." Unfortunately many times the degree did not include people skills. That was ten years ago. I wonder where this philosophy developed and was promulgated.

[2BNTV]

Unfortunately, I had to be present at several "layoff" meetings. At one there was an older man in an overall, quiet and kind of gentle man. The "Advisor" at this meeting asked him what he did - "I take care of all the machines in the machine shop. I oil them, I repair them, I keep them running." "How long have you done this?. "Oh about 30 years." "How do you manage to keep the machines current?" "Oh, I have a little book with all the information in it." She asked if she could see the book, she flipped through the pages of this small spiral bound note pad and handed it back to him. "Go home and burn this, they don't deserve you. There is no one else who will come in here and care for their machinery the way you have."

Nice post that reminds me of the old joke.

A man was laid-off from his job and several co-workers were lamenting his plight. One man stated stated, "poor John, he put in 40 good years with the company".

Another man overheard the comment and said, "John had one good year and repeated 39 times".

I remember when corporations were cutting back on staff so much, they stopped R&D work. Several years later, they found out they lost significant income, because of this decision.

I worked for several corporations who had bean counters, instead of human beings for a CEO. Everything for the almighty bottom line. No people skills.

[tcxr750]

I recently went to a funeral of someone I once worked with at the local phone company. I hadn't spoken to him in several years. I spoke to his brother. His brother spoke of how he was given the choice of quitting or be fired. He had over 40 years of knowledge and I knew him to be the go to guy if you had a technical question.It seems there has been a change in corporate culture that has devalued knowledge and experience for "my way or the highway".

[Halibut]

They assigned her her own parking space.

Six months later, she left to join a smaller film company. Reason?
Every day her car got towed and left outside the premises.

Why would her car be towed if it was her assigned spot? Was someone being petty?

[Uptown Girl]

Why would her car be towed if it was her assigned spot? Was someone being petty?

No… 'someone' neglected to add her license plate # to the parking list. Over the 6 months she worked there, she asked repeatedly for help in resolving the oversight. Each time she asked, she was assured that the problem would be corrected by the next day- and she was assured she was to park there- but 'someone' evidently never followed up or followed through.

My point was that 'being invisible' is not something that only older people experience.

Some months after she quit, her 'boss' called her to say she wanted to include my daughter as part of her team on a new project she was heading.
My daughter had to remind her that she no longer worked there.
Her 'boss' had not remembered that, either.