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People in their 50s shouldn’t feel there is no career runway left
Misguided assumptions are driving age bias and grounding mature older workers who still have much to offer.
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Ageism is not just about lost jobs. It chips away at dignity, self-worth and belonging, says the writer.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Lyn Lee
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Fifty-eight-year-old Angela Tan had served her workplace for 25 years, leading a customer support team. She trained new hires, steadied the ship in a crisis, and was the colleague everyone turned to.
Then came a request from her boss: Could she mentor a younger colleague? Ever the diligent worker, Angela agreed to this. It was only later that she realised this colleague was being groomed to take her place. The promotion Angela had quietly worked towards – customer support manager – never came. She was told she was “too valuable” where she was, and the organisation wanted a manager with “fresh ideas” to modernise the customer experience.
