Age discrimination - How to deal? | INFJ Forum

Age discrimination - How to deal?

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Mogura

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Dec 18, 2010
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In Japan, age discrimination sets in around 35 if you are male, somewhat earlier (30) if you are female. There are many reasons for this, but the main reason is that often salaries are tied to age, as opposed to experience, performance, etc. So companies are reluctant to hire older individuals (mid-career changers) because it creates the "conundrum" where they must pay them more than someone younger who has been with the company longer. It sucks, but that is the reality of the place, and the current global economic crisis, combined with Japan's own economic issues (huge debt, nuclear crisis, etc.) doesn't make it easy.

So, here I am, slightly older than 35 and dealing with the reality of age discrimination. I have been struggling to find work, especially full-time employment, and it hasn't been easy. This is ridiculous (from my perspective) because obviously I am too young to retire and start drawing a pension (social security benefits), yet I am too "old" to find permanent employment or even contract work of any sort.

So, I feel pretty fucked right now, trying to solve what seems to be "unsolvable" puzzle. Suing is not an option because: 1) age discrimination cases are the most difficult cases to prove, 2) Suing is an expensive and slow option to take in Japan. That said, suing is off the table. However, I am still looking for ideas and/or solutions.

I am sure this phenomenon is not only limited to Japan. I can imagine companies in the U.S. being reluctant to hire older workers for the same (economic) reasons: they can get younger people for cheap (assuming that they are hiring at all). So, I am also curious as to whether any of you have experienced/are experiencing age discrimination and how you dealt with it.
I'm not above fudging my resume (I think it's my college graduation date that gives me away), however my age would soon become known by any company hiring me and wanting to enroll me in the social insurance system--so not an option, methinks.

Thanks...
 
Thank you for sharing. I enjoy learning about cultural mores. I ,believe age discrimination in the U.S. tends to be around age 50 and older. The reasons vary, such as having too high a pay scale based on experience level to not being able to qualify on simple aptitude tests. There are not really any defining factors.

The problems faced by this unemployed generation (50 and older) is dissolving their retirement and borrowing money in order to survive, thus perpetuating their problem. Our grandparents may have been able to survive on Social Security at retirement, but that is also b/c at that age they were debt free (including mortgage.) If you are a baby boomer (birth years 1946 - 1964) ... your future financial survival is questionable.

On January 1st, 2011 the very first Baby Boomers turned 65. A massive tsunami of retirees is coming, and America is not ready for it.
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http://investmentwatchblog.com/reti...-to-work-as-wage-slaves-until-they-drop-dead/
 
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Have you thought of taking a lower salary or doesn't it work like that over there?

If money is the issue than I'd be reluctant to call it discrimination. A lot of companies would rather hire someone who could do the job for less. Sometimes experience can even work against you because some places don't want to take someone who's had years of learning another company's practices.
 
Sriracha said:
The problems faced by this unemployed generation (50 and older) is dissolving their retirement and borrowing money in order to survive, thus perpetuating their problem. Our grandparents may have been able to survive on Social Security at retirement, but that is also b/c at that age they were debt free (including mortgage.) If you are a baby boomer (birth years 1946 - 1964) ... your future financial survival is questionable.
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Isn't paying out Social Security benefits at a later point in time (e.g., age 70) being floated as an option? If so, that could really end up fucking people over. Given the current trend to let go of people 50 and older, one might be inclined to say that they should start receiving benefits much earlier...
 
88chaz88 said:
Have you thought of taking a lower salary or doesn't it work like that over there?

If money is the issue than I'd be reluctant to call it discrimination. A lot of companies would rather hire someone who could do the job for less. Sometimes experience can even work against you because some places don't want to take someone who's had years of learning another company's practices.
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They take one look at my resume, deduce my age from either my work history or my college graduation date, and then chuck it in the bin. I never get the call for the interview, thus I don't get the chance to negotiate salary.
 
How do non-profits (or their equivalent) work in Japan as far as salaries? Are they held to that same standard in pay scale? Over here, being in your 30's and moving into that line of work would have them consider you "young". Since they pay a lot less though, much fewer people consider it as a career - most college students don't say "I want to go into non-profit work" after earning their $80,000 degrees.
 
Mogura said:
Isn't paying out Social Security benefits at a later point in time (e.g., age 70) being floated as an option? If so, that could really end up fucking people over. Given the current trend to let go of people 50 and older, one might be inclined to say that they should start receiving benefits much earlier...
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Social Security was formed in 1935 by Franklin D. Roosevelt out of need and desperation during The Great Depression. It may have worked for the people during that time-frame, but it certainly does not now. Benefits to elders have not increased with inflation, making it impossible to survive on it alone. Really, the part that ticks me off about this system is the fact that so many of us pay thousands of dollars into it ... and may never see it. If I died today after all the amount of SS I have paid, my family will receive a measly death benefit of $255.

What you really have to remember is that the U.S. has become a "fend ONLY for yourself society." Our taxes are still considerably low compared to most other countries. Americans see the higher tax and taking away from those "who can" comparable to Socialism. This is why it is extremely important to carry retirement and then as you move closer to retirement to pay for some kind of Long Term Care Insurance and Medicare Security Supplemental Insurance. This really is the morale of those who still earn their keep ... "why should we have to pay for everyone else?"

Because Social Security and Medicare does not kick in until age 65, those who are unemployed would only be able to receive unemployment benefits (which has a cap on the duration in which one receives ... although President Obama raised that duration I believe) and basically go entirely without health insurance. One of the REAL problems is that so many attempt to survive by their current lifestyle, when really ... they need to look at living WAY BELOW their normal means. At least it will stretch out what money they do have.

The only other money the government (I know of) will distribute is Food Stamps (to those who qualify). In the state of Georgia: TANF (temporary assistance to needy families) and some state run health insurance is only available to families with children ... with only the health insurance covering the children. Again, that is capped as well and I believe the income qualifier is basically poverty level (somewhere around $15k/yr.)

Honestly, the only way I can see through this chaos is by the government raising taxes. I am a firm supporter of Flat Tax (taxes on bought goods) rather than income tax, since there are so many who SHOULD be paying taxes and do not (from the very wealthy to illegal aliens.) Instead of the Obama forced Health Care which was shot down, he should have modified the current Medicare System that is in place. Higher taxes would allow the government to aid mortgage companies in modifying loans, etc. This is coming from someone is living "comfortably" at the current moment. I just know that at any moment ... this problem could be my family's problem and of course I would want some form of security.

It's not an easy time we live in at the moment, but I always remind myself that "nothing is new."
 
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You will need to effectively network. Meet. Greet. Press flesh. Whatever the Japanese equivalent is, I would suggest you do. Rely on family and friends to introduce you to people who can help get your foot in the door. Be more persistant and less accomodating--as much as social ettiquette allows. Consider moving or working away from your native country. I would think after the disaster, that things would be a bit unstable no? Might not just be you age but the general economic outlook.
 
Would it be possible for you to connect with others who've found themselves in the same situation? How did they manage it? I'm not at all familiar with Japanese culture -- are there resources to assist 35+ persons in finding work, such as employment centres or the like?

Similarly, is there any flexibility in where you can look for work?

I hope you will come upon something -- surely there is a way out of this predicament that will result in an acceptable outcome for you. Best of luck!
 
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Come and work in Australia on a worker's visa.

Young people are usually discriminated against here instead of middle-aged workers.
 
... or come work in America. Many times you can find companies looking for persons fluent in English and Japanese.
 
Flavus Aquila said:
Come and work in Australia on a worker's visa.

Young people are usually discriminated against here instead of middle-aged workers.
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I did try that once. I ran into a catch-22 scenario with that one: I cannot get a work visa without an Australian company willing to sponsor (hire) me; I cannot get an Australian company to hire me without a work visa...
 
Mogura said:
I did try that once. I ran into a catch-22 scenario with that one: I cannot get a work visa without an Australian company willing to sponsor (hire) me; I cannot get an Australian company to hire me without a work visa...
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There could be three possible solutions:
1. Search for Australian companies advertising in Japan.
2. Search for a low-paying job to get the visa and into Australia - and once here, search for a job better suited to your qualifications.
3. Apply for a migrant visa. If you have qualifications, you will probably get it.
 
Have you tried generating your own work somehow?
 
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