A recent age discrimination lawsuit filed against Google has sparked a conversation about ageism in tech, leaving many of us wondering if we’ve aged out of the job market, especially at a company known for its youthful vibe.
Data from Payscale, highlighted by Computerworld, reveals that Google’s employee count skyrocketed from 9,500 to 28,000 between 2007 and 2013. That’s a massive hiring spree! Yet, astonishingly, the median age of Google employees sits at just 29 years old. I mean, I have magazines older than that!
The lawsuit involves a 60-year-old software developer named Thomas Smith, who was contacted by a Google recruiter and invited to apply for a position. Despite being considered a strong candidate by the recruiter, he didn’t land the role after a phone interview where both parties struggled to hear each other. Apparently, the stereotype that older folks—anyone over 30—have poor hearing is still alive and well. Maybe Google prefers their employees to be able to hear each other over a phone call, who knew?
This isn’t Google’s first brush with age discrimination claims. Back in 2007, they settled a lawsuit from an employee named Mark Thompson, who was let go at 54 for supposedly not fitting the “culture.” During the case, Thompson recounted how his younger coworkers dismissed his ideas as “too old-fashioned” and labeled him an “old fogey.” The case was quietly settled, leaving many questions unanswered.
While these cases highlight the struggles that men over 50 face in the workforce, one has to wonder what the magic number is for women. If a 54-year-old man is seen as over the hill, what about a 45-year-old woman? Women in their 40s often navigate the tricky waters of workplace dynamics, facing sexism and gender bias. We endure unequal pay and are still underrepresented in leadership roles. Yet, we should be enjoying the benefits of our experience and wisdom, right? We’re in the prime of our careers, not too young to be dismissed and not too old to be out of touch.
Unless, of course, we’re talking about Google.
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Summary:
The article discusses the implications of age discrimination at Google, particularly in light of a recent lawsuit involving an older applicant. It highlights the challenges faced by older workers, especially women, in a youth-centric work culture. The piece underlines the importance of experience and wisdom in the workplace while questioning the biases that prevail.