In her 40s, back with a degree - but no job
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Classic Singapore Ills
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In her 40s, back with a degree - but no job
Feb 3, 2006
The Straits Times
I WAS elated to be able to join my family for the recent Chinese New Year reunion dinner after missing the past two years' to pursue a degree in Australia.
Although I am happy to be back in Singapore, I faced an uphill task re-entering the workforce, due to my age. I am in my 40s.
Employers are reluctant to recruit older candidates because they believe such workers are not healthy and would cost them in medical expenses. I find such discrimination grossly unfair.
As the population ages, Singapore needs to keep older workers employed for longer. Older candidates should be assessed and recruited according to the same criteria as younger ones.
If this issue is not addressed soon, older job seekers would become disillusioned and leave Singapore to take up jobs overseas. It would be a shame to lose talented, able and healthy workers to other developed countries due to this age discrimination.
Why should we be penalised when we have taken up the Government's challenge to upgrade our skills and qualification?
Sharon Lee Soh Leng (Ms) -
Er.. doesn't this happen all over the world?
Why should employers hire you when a younger person can do an equivalent job? -
got once i took cab to work
the cabbie is a lady with MBA -
I wonder what degree she studied for
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maybe is something like agronomy?Originally posted by SnowFlag:I wonder what degree she studied for -
ah dragg
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40 and a Ms... how to support herself like dis?
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Degree in Farming.
Hey don't laugh. Uni of Colombia offers that. -
wow, you remember.Originally posted by SBS9828X:ah dragg
i feel she shouldnt have gone for a degree. it is not about academic qualifications anymore if you are past 40. -
what has age got to do with performance?Originally posted by Salman:Er.. doesn't this happen all over the world?
Why should employers hire you when a younger person can do an equivalent job?
if every employer thinks like you do there will be social problems. all singaporeans over 40 will be unemployed. -
If i am not wrong.....unlike Miss, Ms can mean either married or singleOriginally posted by SBS9828X:40 and a Ms... how to support herself like dis? 
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I empathise with her
but hey, nobody owe her a living.
From an employer point of view, age could also mean additional cost and expenses (salary and medical) unless they could justify the reasons to spend such as her experience and network.
Was she able to accept lower salary? Is her degree of any significance and relevance to the job she was looking for? Anyway most aging employee are able to stay on usually because they had stayed with their employer for a long time. Therefore she had to bare the consequence of her action for leaving her employment to obtain her academic qualification.
But I do hope that the society (employer and governmant) do give credits and chances to all the senior and aging people coz whatever I had said, I will have to face the same suitation in the future.
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but who knows, if she still got a job, maybe she can ask for higher pay dur to acad qualifications?Originally posted by dragg:wow, you remember.
i feel she shouldnt have gone for a degree. it is not about academic qualifications anymore if you are past 40. -
Those of you who are currently gainfully employed and young, don't be too ready with a snappy and smart answer or statement. The day will come when you reach 40, and you lose the cushy job you are so comfy and familiar with.
Yes, no one owes anyone a living, but if medical costs is the main reason employers are not hiring older people, then it's the government's fault. They should reduce medical costs for older people who MUST work to support themselves.
Everybody ages, so don't be snappy with comments. -
If you are not a business owner and an employee and this happened to you, I wonder what you will do. You will be like the woman above who wrote the letter. And who you call whiners.Originally posted by Salman:Er.. doesn't this happen all over the world?
Why should employers hire you when a younger person can do an equivalent job? -
One of the reasons why she won't get hired. Young people with the same qualifications will work for a lower pay and longer hours.Originally posted by SBS9828X:but who knows, if she still got a job, maybe she can ask for higher pay dur to acad qualifications?
And if she got more experience and use this as a reason for pay rise, the higher the possibility of not being hired. -
Perhaps, if what you've said is true, then the young these days are digging their own grave by undercutting older workers, because they will become old folks too some day?Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:One of the reasons why she won't get hired. Young people with the same qualifications will work for a lower pay and longer hours.
And if she got more experience and use this as a reason for pay rise, the higher the possibility of not being hired.
No? -
In short; I suggest that the government buck up and make hiring older workers for employers less of a financial strain, by subsidizing thei medicals.
At the rate babies are produced these days, I'd say Singapore is going to be choked full of old folks in the decades to come! -
Yup. We will get to taste our own medicine when we are old.Originally posted by ShutterBug:Perhaps, if what you've said is true, then the young these days are digging their own grave by undercutting older workers, because they will become old folks too some day?
No?
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The government won't do that. They will import foreign talent. What's more, foreigners pay the full price of medical nowadays, and government is taking in the money. Profits is always number one in terms of priority. The same goes for our government.Originally posted by ShutterBug:In short; I suggest that the government buck up and make hiring older workers for employers less of a financial strain, by subsidizing thei medicals.
At the rate babies are produced these days, I'd say Singapore is going to be choked full of old folks in the decades to come! -
i have worked with a lot of people who are in their 40s they dont fall sick more often than any average youngsters.
unless you are talking about really old workers in their 50s and above then medical problem is an issue.
FYI i was ranked no 1 at my former job when it comes to MCs. -
[quote]Originally posted by dragg:
[b]i have worked with a lot of people who are in their 40s they dont fall sick more often than any average youngsters.
unless you are talking about really old workers in their 50s and above then medical problem is an issue.
FYI i was ranked no 1 at my former job when it comes to the least MCs taken.
it depends on the attitude of individuals. i have seen a young colleague of mine taking MC to go settle some personal problems. -
So you're number 1 when it comes to taking MCs?Originally posted by dragg:i have worked with a lot of people who are in their 40s they dont fall sick more often than any average youngsters.
unless you are talking about really old workers in their 50s and above then medical problem is an issue.
FYI i was ranked no 1 at my former job when it comes to MCs. -
Don't be so bad lah.Originally posted by ditzy:So you're number 1 when it comes to taking MCs? -
i no.1 in getting mc