Job security and lack thereof features pretty regularly in the news, no matter what your age group. But there’s increasing talk about people as young as 50 or so constantly being passed over for younger folk whose accomplishments and CV aren’t up to theirs.
For anti-discrimination reasons, employers won’t admit on the record that their hiring decision came down to age, but if research and sentiment amongst those in that age bracket are correct, it’s happening. And it’s insidious. And if age is a deciding factor, there is zero you can do about that.
No, fibbing is not an option. You’re bound to forget and say they’ve short-changed the candles on your cake at your next birthday morning tea. Sprung. (And honesty is always the best policy, of course.)
It’s crazy that we talk about 50 being the new 40 and 60 being the new 50, yet it seems when it comes to hiring, it ain’t necessarily so.
According to this report by the ABC,
“The reluctance of Australian employers to hire older workers is costing the country about $10 billion each year, according to Australia’s Age Discrimination Commissioner.
Susan Ryan says bias against workers over 50 is endemic and she fears it is much worse than previously thought.”
The Commissioner goes on to make recommendations that people ask themselves some key questions while they are still in employment, no matter what their present career might be.
“[They] should be saying, ‘well, can I do this job for the next 20 years? Will I be able to? Do I want to? Have I got the physical strength to? And if I need to change what is available to me? How do I find another job?’
If you find yourself asking those questions —and you’re also keen on better health and happiness — I have another option for you to consider.
What if you could develop another income stream while you still have a stable job?
One that can be your ‘insurance policy’ and grow until the time you voluntarily choose to leave your job. Or if the decision is made for you, you have a Plan B in place with some groundwork established from which to grow.
When you’re in your 50s, you have plenty of financial commitments. Chances are, you have children still in school or tertiary education, given you’re in the generation when it started becoming more common to wait longer before starting your family.
Likewise, there’s a good chance you have a mortgage. A busy social life. Not enough free time as it is.
Contemplating starting a part-time business can be way too daunting if you’re talking about the typical business where you have to put in massive hours to get it off the ground. You might be looking at buying a franchise, but it still requires your time and lots of it. Especially if you are the staff, as is mostly the case with the not-quite-so-horrendously-costly franchises like lawn mowing, home maintenance, dog washing. And in 20 years, you’ll still have to be putting in the hours, getting up early, long days and being stuck in traffic. Somewhere along the way, you realise you traded one job for another. You might be working for yourself, but it never lets up.
Sounds like a scary and exhausting plan. But instead of that, there’s another way. I’m not talking about your typical business. I’m talking about a business where
- you shift some of your spending habits in a very easy way that improves your wellbeing
- you enjoy learning to use great-smelling products that are safe and non-toxic
- and you help others to do the same
And if you love essential oils, you’ll find this one of the simplest things you can imagine to put into practice.
If you’re even the slightest bit curious to find out more, please contact me for some info.
Enjoy the good oil daily.
This will also connect you up with The Good Oil Team for our personal support and coaching. We'd love to help you on your journey to vibrant well-being the natural way!
Any questions? Please get in touch via our Contact page.
