And yet, Luay, older workers are still being replaced with younger ones by the big corporations. My husband and seven of his colleagues have just been given the “opportunity” to re-apply for their own jobs.

My husband just turned 65, doesn’t reach full retirement age for another 18 months, and would have been eligible for a pension next year. His co-worker, over 50, will be eligible for a pension in December. When my husband’s colleague went to re-apply for his job of executive director, only director positions were listed. The boss is shifting a recent hire into that position, so, to stay at the company, my husband’s colleague must land a job in a position junior to his own and accept lower pay.

It’s a clear-cut case of ageism. The boss said that it wasn’t a question of performance, they just want to be sure “everyone is on the same page.”

Younger employees see this happen and realize that loyalty to the company is a joke because it’s never rewarded, and more often than not, puts you in a bad position. They give you a bonus and a performance award one year and lay you off the next. This is not a company hurt by the pandemic either. Their profits have gone up in the last year.