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Surviving as an “Old” in the Tech World
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Surviving as an “Old” in the Tech World

Karen Wickre
Wired, 2017
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8

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Recommendation

When Google hired Karen Wickre, she was already 52 years old – which made her one of the oldest Google employees at the time. In this Wired article, she raises awareness for the predicament in which companies with an emphasis on youthfulness can place older employees. Wickre lists eight recommendations to help companies adjust their models for career opportunities and other benefits in ways that take into account their older employees. The older you are the more getAbstract recommends this article to you, your company's managers and HR team.

Summary

Even companies that aim for a diverse workforce seldom address age bias. Those affected hesitate to draw attention to their age, and age discrimination can come disguised under the cloak of restructuring or other operational changes. Change in eight areas could help your company make the most of “the olds” in your workforce: 

  1. “Socializing” – Spending time with your co-workers outside the office can create a better atmosphere among team members, but alcohol-laden outings or physical challenges make many older workers uncomfortable. A family-friendly employee picnic...

About the Author

Karen Wickre has worked at several Silicon Valley companies, including Google and Twitter.

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