Two weeks ago I caught up with an old friend – a fellow I shared a wonderful ‘group house’ with back in the mid 1980s. We were out with a group of us who had all known one another at that time, in a different city, when we were all still in our twenties.
A highly educated man with a sharp intellect and a career that spanned a number of senior roles in the public sector, the corporate sector and the non-government (NGO)sector, he had recently experienced a serious illness – cancer. Following successful surgery and other treatment which admittedly had taken a toll at the time, he was re-energised and eager to get back to his interesting and satisfying career.
Problem was, his workplace had undergone some changes while he was unwell and away. Nothing personal; purely circumstantial and not unexpected. But his was among several roles being restructured at the time and before long he found himself part of a redundancy program. Sure, there was excellent support extended to him – both financial and organisational – to help him make a transition to a new job or even a new career.
If you are interested in this issue, you have personal experience of age or disability discrimination, or you know some good stories or positive examples of organisations or policies that seem to work, this is your chance to make a contribution.
Feeling that he was at the height of his professional powers, he did the courses, saw the careers counselors and demonstrated the same attention and enthusiasm he had always shown in his professional life as he applied himself to this next career phase.
But almost a year later and aged only 56, he remains unemployed and increasingly dispirited. Applying for jobs, he says, can be almost a full time job in itself when you are serious and motivated. The problem he has found however, is that no matter how much research and consideration and effort he puts into a job application, the most common outcome is no response at all.
His outrage, his hurt and actually his utter shock at this turn of events, is palpable. And it’s a sober reminder that age discrimination (for this is the only explanation, even if it isn’t stated) is absolutely alive and well in a workplace near you. The much-quoted words of 17th century poet, John Donne leap to mind: “…never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee!” Aaargh!
There’s nothing like personal experience – or the personal experience of someone close to you – to bring something otherwise fairly theoretical suddenly into sharp relief.
So personally I’m thrilled to hear that this week, the Attorney General, Senator George Brandis joined with Age Discrimination Commissioner, Susan Ryan to launch a national inquiry into employment discrimination against older Australians and Australians with a disability.
It’s to be conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission under Commissioner Ryan’s leadership and it is due to report on its findings and recommendations by July 2016.
A no-brainer for Australia
There are lots of reasons why this inquiry is important but in the current political and economic climate – with a federal government grasping at opportunities to improve the health of the national budget and staring down the findings of the latest Intergenerational Report – the most obvious and compelling ‘no-brainer’ reason must be the economic one.
According to Commissioner Ryan, Deloitte Access Economics research shows that increasing the number of Australians older than 55 in paid employment by only 5 per cent would result in a $48 billion (positive) impact on the national economy!
Only 61.5 per cent of Australians aged 55-64 are in the workforce in Australia. Surely that figure could and should be higher. In New Zealand, the figure is 74.4 per cent so what are they doing differently? Since 2012, Australia has dropped from 11th to 13th place among other OECD countries for workforce participation of older workers. What a waste of valuable skills, knowledge and talent.
If you are interested in this issue, you have personal experience of age or disability discrimination, or you know some good stories or positive examples of organisations or policies that seem to work, this is your chance to make a contribution.
The Inquiry aims to “consult as widely as possible with older Australians, Australians with disability and their carers and families, business, employer and employee organisations, advocacy groups and stakeholders in order to hear their views, experiences and suggestions for change.
It “will seek a wide range of views through a call for submissions and a series of consultations and roundtables to be held across Australia.”
You can contribute and register your interest right here.
Be mad as hell if you like, but don’t leave it at that. Go ahead and be part of a positive change. As Ghandi said, “An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.”
[Graphic image above showing small figure pushing the word, ‘change’ is by David Castillo Dominici]
