Unveiling Wisdom - Embracing Every Age

An offsite lunch with a team of eighty

A 20 year old walked up to me without a warn;

I checked your LinkedIn profile he said confidently

The year you completed CA was the year I was born.

Why did you return to the corporate space he probed

Isn’t it time to retire and head to the hills I was told;

Pin drop silence in the room and all waited for my reaction

I felt a tinge of pity and empathy for this lad not so old.

I was amused and I thought hard with my heart 

This would never be asked to a male counterpart;

Ageism - discrimination against the old is so uncanny 

Combined with the gender issue, it is a double whammy.

One in six senior adults aren’t hired & given no option

53% of job seekers were asked to submit their birth certification;

62% over 50 stated that older workers face discrimination

Shouldn’t we all fight for a totally different perception?

It is very interesting to review the global labour laws

An Indian retires at 60 while an American works forever;

Does that mean Indians living in US are fitter & smarter

You should be able to decide to hang up the boots whenever.

You don’t experience it until after you retire 

And look for a new place that wants to hire;

Positions for which you very well qualify

HR & the Hiring manager just heave a big sigh.

Just because you aren’t young any more 

You find that you can’t get past the door;

Actually it is not money you that you really need 

But want to keep your knowledge up to speed. 

You can’t judge a book by it cover goes the saying

Surely that is where the global prejudice is gaining;

Inside is the book is an interesting story you’ll agree

Perhaps not as worn out as the cover you get to see.

Age diversity in workplaces is growing year on year

With up to four generations working together;

Organisations must ensure that they are all inclusive

Definition of diversity should be revamped forever.