Sad ending to a cherished career

I worked for a large public sector organization that touts itself as inclusive and valuing diversity. Their employees win awards for diversity and inclusion. No one would ever believe that they treat long service employees with disrespect, but they do.

I had been with the organization for 40 years and never took my job for granted. It was a cherished career from day one out of university. I worked my way up the organization and was promoted to a senior manager level. I was the first person in the office, and often the last to leave. I worked evenings and always answered messages from colleagues promptly. I took only two sick days over the last 15 years, when I broke my ankle. Then went back to work.

A new director was hired from an external organization, not public sector but private. I supported her and helped her integrate into her new position/organization and she was very grateful for my support. She later brought in a former colleague from her prior organization. This person felt he should have my job. He was a large man and took to intimidating me and suggesting he will take over my job almost from day one. He felt the work he was given was below him. He was untruthful with absences and took advantage of the leave policy when he was travelling to look for another job elsewhere. When I expressed concern to my director, and even the VP, it was brushed off. He left the organization when he ran out of sick leave.

Later, the director brought in another colleague from her former employer. This person was younger and less experienced. The director asked me to step aside and give her my projects giving me a project which I was hesitant to take. However, I had little choice. The new manager got all the plumb assignments, and development opportunities all went her way. The director supported her and highlighted her while taking away high visibility assignments from me. In my view, this was driven by the fact that I was a long service employee and eligible to retire. However, I needed the job as my husband had lost his job and we were relying on my salary. I enjoyed work and was contributing fully.

One day I was brought into a conference room and terminated. To say I was in shock is an understatement. I later found out that not only was I let go, but 3 of 4 managers (all 20-30 year plus employees) were also terminated. The only manager who survived was the friend of the director.

In my view, this situation was the picture of ageism. The organization was letting people go and the older employees were seen as expendable. A horrible and painful way to end a cherished career.

While I did engage a lawyer, it was clear that it would be a case of fighting against a giant with high cost and risk of not winning. So, I had to let it go. It was ageism but no one really cares about this type of discrimination, and you really have no recourse if it happens to you.