I am a 50-year-old marketing director, and my new boss told me I need to think “younger.” I am shocked. Is this age discrimination?
You should be as shocked as Captain Renault was to discover that there was gambling going on in the back room of Rick’s Cafe in “Casablanca.” Before you go lining up lawyers, chillax. (That’s right, I said “chillax” — because that’s how I roll, dude.) What your boss said may have more to do with the audience you are trying to reach than it has to do with your age. I’m not naive and know that age discrimination still occurs in many areas. But the reality is that most older workers who lose their jobs do so not due to their age, but due to expense. As companies need to downsize and reduce costs, it means longer-tenured, higher-salaried workers are more vulnerable as a result. Business conditions are constantly evolving, as should the skills needed to stay competitive. The best chance of long-term employment is to demonstrate that your thinking and skills are “current” and that you add more value to the organization than you cost. And that applies to workers of all ages.
The company I work for is moving to an open space plan. Since there will be fewer offices, I’m concerned I will lose mine. I’ve worked a long time to achieve a certain status, and besides, as a vice president, I have numerous confidential discussions and need private space. How can I make a pitch to maintain an office that doesn’t make me sound like I’m resisting the change?
You can’t — because you are resisting. Many companies are moving to more open space plans, and some have eliminated offices entirely — even for the CEO. And if a CEO can conduct business without a dedicated office, anyone in the company can. It definitely is a change and, for some, requires adjusting how and where you conduct certain business. And while that does present some challenges, the benefits far outweigh the status of having your own windows while others toil away in fluorescent-light-cubicle hell. Embrace the change. Say hello to more colleagues. Democratize the natural light, and let the energy back in!