Old dogs, old tricks

In recent comments posted on this blog, we’ve noted a number of references to age discrimination at federal agencies—long-time employees not receiving raises/promotions to which they believe they were entitled.

Most of the time, horror stories concerning over-50 members of the U.S. workforce tend not to come from the employed, but from those who have lost their jobs in this tough economic climate, and who—despite their experience and education—have been unable to get hired into another job, any job, even a lousy one.

But we also suppose that those very same horror stories also keep older workers—in the private sector and government alike—coming in to work at the tenured jobs they have (and dislike), rather that risk leaving for something unknown (and perhaps probationary).

Earlier this week, we saw scores of posts here discussing buy-outs and early outs, and a lot of folks—at least most of those who responded here—said they would jump at the chance to accept such offers.

We wonder how much of this attitude, somewhere under the surface, was due to some perception of age discrimination.