Usurped at work by younger person

I'm sorry that you have been upset by what has happenend at your work. I try to use the mantra in life that "if you can't change something change your reaction to it." In your situation I would do whatever made it easier for me to cope with. Personally I wouldn't be taking photos or gathering any evidence as this is all very negative and I wouldn't want to end my working days on such a sour note. If you have such a wealth of knowledge and expertise much better to be remembered for having done a brilliant suporting role and handover- than for causing unpleasantness.
I feel terribly sorry for the young these days - its difficult for them to get experience in the 1st place, and with pension ages being raised promotions can be delayed because we have a bulge at the other end. Add to this that they have been locked down to protect the elderly and infirmed and I think we owe them a debt of gratitude.
When we went into the work place there were jobs available and if you wanted to work you could its not the same now and hasn't been for some years.
Be kind to yourself and don't turn this into a battle.

Why not be the better person.support the youngster.After all being the new and younger member of staff is not easy. (I expect you found that once)Show her how a grown up behaves

I just want to wish you luck and happiness

Lifebeginsat60,. I was in the same situation. A new department was created where I worked , with a new post specifically designed for me and my 20 years of experience in the role. A young woman, new to the institution, was appointed head of the overall department. After a few months she suggested that I resign my senior position and work partime in a junior position. She did not want to lose 2 young members of the team and my 'demotion' would enable the younger women to improve their prospects. I of course refused to cooperate and situation became intolerable. Luckily I was known in my place of employment and was supported by colleagues. However, I was no longer happy in my role and I decided to retire earlier than planned. It transpired that this was the best course of action to take. I was no longer enjoying a job I had loved and decided that the stress and unhappiness it was causing me was not worth it. I am not suggesting that you follow this course of action but it worked for me. I am now a volunteer, a researcher, in a museum and am enjoying my life and retirement. Do not let your situation take over your life.

I’ve seen this happen numerous times to excellent workers (usually, I’m sad to say, females) being overseen and usurped by inexperienced but youthful and novel newcomers. It’s a disgrace and I hope as society learns to recognise and value older women it will be less prevalent. Could you look around for something else that would be still interesting and rewarding for yourself? I could see myself being very frustrated and angry in this situation, no way to end what I’m sure was a brilliant career.

I was extremely unhappy in my job as I approached retirement as my line manager was suspended over ridiculous complaints, then left despite being reinstated. She was not replaced but her 2 undermanagers took on the extra workload. This inevitably meant more work pushed in everyone else's direction. One was a bully, who was partly responsible for my line manager's departure, and was universally disliked by all the department.

Then came the pandemic! Working from home, doing training courses online with retirement only months away seemed pointless, and actual work was minimal. I really missed my colleagues. In the end, instead of retiring last summer as planned, I went back in September when schools returned, and retired at half term. I couldn't face retiring from lockdown and wanted a proper send-off, which I got. Since retirement I've done a couple of spells of casual work, first invigilating in the same school (with no contact with the bully), and I'm currently working on the census for a month. I'll be invigilating again soon too.

There are part time jobs to be had, as well as short term casual opportunities, so maybe consider leaving earlier than planned if you can afford it. Otherwise try to stay as positive as possible and keep looking for an escape route that may appear. Being retired has been strange during lockdown as many of the things I'd planned have been impossible. I wish you well whatever you decide to do.

According to my husband who worked in HR any changes that might impact on your employment custom and practice, whilst the employer can change things they do need to be at minimum with proper consultation and possibly negotiation. Despite what you say about this not being a union issue, you need union advice, if only to give you confidence. You cannot fight this by yourself. Best wishes .

I’m so sorry you’re experiencing age discrimination. I’m sharing my story with you from a looking back position. I recognise all that you say.Please don’t let them push you out. We can’t control the actions of others only ourselves. Only ourselves my advice would be to take as many steps as you can in order to protect yourself. For me leaving with dignity ie accepting being pushed out didn’t pay the bills at home. I had to protect myself by documenting everything on a daily sometimes hourly basis. The worst mistake I decided I could make was to think that I was indispensable after 19 years of service. I was in the legal profession but working from home so anything that went wrong was attributed to me even files re clients I had never ever heard of let alone had in my possession. Again a younger woman saw a good job opportunity ie my job and as she was right under the bosses nose , younger , more energy and bringing this and that to the bosses attention re my so called mistakes I was becoming stuck in a heap of exaggerated at best or lies at worse leading to me becoming a less desirable employee than my colleague.
They even constructed a piñata in the office gave it my name and whacked it with a big stick whenever I was being blamed for non existent faults. So I documented every interaction every piece of work I did in my diary etc etc. I worked unsociable hours which left me with no other way . Then I started to recieve those dreaded emails so and so had to do this on your file you didn’t complete this that. All lies as I had passed it on to so and so when there was no more that I could do during my working hours on a case ie normal procedure. So presumably so and so said I hadn’t etc. You must keep records at home even though all you want to do is cry. They constructed a so called case against me. Disciplinary proceedings were then introduced. When I was called out for not answering the out of hours phone on a certain time/ date at the hearing. I was able to point out I was on annual leave and holding my mothers hand as she died from cancer I thought they would give up harassing me. But no by this point in their minds I was trouble. Having failed to present a case of misconduct . The following week I was asked to attend another meeting . At that meeting redundancy papers were served on me and that was that I was out. I was 52 it made me so ill that I am now registered as a disabled Pierson. I should have left and claimed constructive dismissal but losing my best friend ie my mum plus the weight of the stress meant I was too ill. So it’s so important to keep records of all your interactions with work. You are being discriminated against get advice from your union or Accas or The CAB . Go down fighting but make yourself look amendable and cooperative with your employee. Look like goody 2shoes but keep records as priofvvvv vvvv

This rings a bell for me too, although it was an older colleague who manipulated our manager to give her my job when I went off sick with stress from lack of staff. I was in my early 50’s.
She had been after my job for 2 years, according to another colleague and was given 3 extra staff on appointment.
I put up with working for her for another 3 years as I was so lacking in confidence and self esteem. She wasn’t interested in learning from my expertise and micro managed me the whole time.
My solution was to get a transfer to another department, where the manager had a good reputation for looking after her staff. It was the best thing I could have done as together we made a success of the department and it was the only department in a very large organisation that met its targets the year I retired. So I left on a high.
By the way I agree with easybee last paragraph, though it took me a while to realise it.
peasblossom too has some excellent advice. I wish I knew
about Gransnet then, I could have done with the support!

Like everyone above, I wanted to offer some kind words and there is great advice above.

Also by writing it down and keeping a log - it does take some of the weight from your shoulders.

Are there any opportunities to do an informal lunchtime “stroll for exercise” or coffee or out of hours activity with any of those colleagues you regard as friends, keep the chat light - and see if they bring the subject up or raise any insight that helps?

When it happened to me I crumbled and subconsciously reacted and behaved as a victim. I resolved similar issues by faking it and giving myself a talking to - shoulders back, walk tall, smile, look happy, look confident, be breezy, light and friendly (I was feeling none of it inside, but forcing it helped preserve my own position in the workplace)

Very wise words from Peasblossom. I was in a similar, though different situation, in the last couple of years at work. I took the opportunity to start making work less important in my life. This really helped when I came to retire. I had been a bit of a workaholic and wondered how I would be when I wasn't working any more. I didn't miss work nearly as much as I had expected when the time came. Experience isn't valued as much as it might be. Peasblossom is right, it isn't about you, though of course it feels personal. New bosses often want things done in a different way so that they can prove their own worth. They tend to assume older workers are set in their ways or coasting towards retirement and look to younger employees for fresh ideas. If you can, embrace the good ideas from your colleague's proposal and let your experience add value to them, offered in a supportive, team player spirit. That may well confound how they expected you to respond and cause them to reflect on their own behaviour. We can but hope! Alternatively, as Peasblossom suggests, tell your boss you'd like a new challenge, and put forward a proposal of your own.

In your place, I would ask my boss for a private interiew.

When this takes place, I would tell him what you have said here about how you experienced the meeting, where in your estimation you were swept aside and your usual work role handed to someone else.

I am not say that you are wrong in feeling that this is exactly what happened, but it should make the interview more constructive if you start by saying that this is your experience of that meeting.

Ask him to tell you precisely in a couple of days from the interview what tasks he wants you to take on, now that the ones you have done for so long and been content to do have been handed over to someone else.

If he waffles about not knowing what you will be doing, tell him that you need to know precisely where you stand.

If he denies that your former work has been taken over by anyone else, tell him that that is hardly the case.

If you want, you can also ask him whether this change should be seen by you as criticism of the way you have done your work.

From his point of view, he has to prepare for the fact that you will enivitably retire in the course of the next couple of years.

He neither can nor should be entirely unprepared for your doing so, but it would have been more tactful to have asked you to include a younger member of staff in your area of expertise in preperation for the day when you retire.

I would have some suggestions ready for what I could take on as my work now that I have been so inconsiderately relieved of the work I had been accustomed to doing.

Point out that the way this was done was unprofessional and unkind.

I realise you risk his saying it might be better if you left, but you are surely entitled to state that you have no intention of doing so before you qualify for the higher pension on such-and- such a date.

If it all goes sideways, he will have to justify firing you. I doubt that ageismn is a valid ground and he will surely find it difficult to prove that you were not performing your job to his satisfaction. After all if that were the case you were entitled to at least one warning before changes were made.

You say this is not a union matter. In your place I would get onto my union at once - they may well have some helpful advice.

Really sorry you feel undermined, but don't allow that to affect your self-esteem. You've been railroaded, but it's not a reflection of your usefulness or worth - separate the two.
What they did was unpleasant - some people behave that way which doesn't make it acceptable. They just don't have the skills to handle change diplomatically. Are you worried that they may be trying to edge you out? Would that be difficult for you financially? Can you check the details of your pension/s? Whatever you can do like this to ease your worries might be helpful. But apart from that, remember that it's not you that has created a difficult situation. You are still the same useful person you always were.

I think it is important to take copies of everything. I had the sense to do this after being “ seen off” in the past. It was invaluable as my boss did not pass on the report I wrote. That could have been nasty. Also keep a diary. You are probably too nice and soft like Iwas. Took me a long time to learn. Other people use your ideas. Good luck.

I worked in Human Resources and went out to outlying areas of our work to interview people and help people back to work after their period of sickness. I did a good job and was well liked. On returning to the office two young colleagues (21 and 18 yr olds) had been altering the computer system. When I queried how to use it I was asked by my manager 'are you losing the plot'. I was humiliated in front of the smirking girls. It was at that moment I resolved to retire, and I've never looked back. I've done a variety of interesting little jobs (paid and unpaid) and met lots of nice people, all of which I've really enjoyed.
My advice - don't stick around to be undermined, you're worth so much more.

Some very good ideas here, @lifebeginsat60. I recognise the feelings in a slightly different context in that I would watch my suggestions being ignored whilst others, usually men, would make the same suggestion later and be applauded and entrusted with the project. I coped by deciding that the project was not 'meant' for me and looked for something else I wanted to achieve that really needed doing but may not have the 'glamour'/high profile of my other proposals. The upside was that the first proposal was achieved by someone and that the less attractive one I took on was also carried out (by me). The downside was that the first proposals were often not completed for lack of knowledge amongst those who took them on in the field such as Aids/HIV awareness raising or setting up a support group for men(!). However, never having aspired to management and all its tediousness, I recognised that these failures were a disappointment but not my responsibility....

There are 2 things you can do, share your knowledge to help the younger colleague or keep it to yourself. Choose wisely I didn't ?

As others have said keep a record of what has been asked of you and how/if you deal with it. If possible I would go to you boss and suggest that in order for them to have free reign to do their thing that you could be utilised in another role, try to make it sound like you could do more good on the suggestion and want to give the new team a clear run. Then it'll be up to you how much 'assistance' you give them.

Had this all through my working life. So I know where you are coming from and ended up retiring early because it happened yet again. Smile - take your pay- let them do all the grafting. Be ready to jump in with a smile when they need your help. But more importantly plan your retirement. Get ready to go on your terms if and when you want to and not because they forced you. I worked for the NHS and got bullied out of my last two posts. I had years of experience, loads of qualifications and a degree. Yet they were happy to have uneducated youngster with no experience as they were cheaper to employ. Sometimes the only way you can beat them is by retiring.
My old boss was so shocked when I told her and her expression was priceless.

This may develop into what is known as "bossing", the boss's version of "mobbing". I agree, make notes of date, time, person, what was said or done, so that you have the details at hand should this go against you. Sad, though, that this is happening. We also have a new boss who is keen on saving money, and the "human factor" is being overlooked. But, in our case, no one is fond of him and his new methods.

Ouch that’s not good. I feel for you and have been through something similar. Took early retirement and managed on my occupational pension. I was lucky in that my partner supports me but if he hadn’t I’d have looked for another job. Something less stressful and maybe more fun. Something that you have an interest in.
My knee jerk reaction was to stay, and be an advocate and teacher for the less experienced. But that’ll be tough watching your job being done by someone else. Have they said what they do want you to do in future? They need to find you suitable alternative employment under employment law.
If you really need the cash and can tough it out stay and find yourself a little niche to last you out. If not I’d fly away and find a new life. Good luck. ??. Ps it’s a big world out there. You might be surprised.

This sounds awful! It shouldn't have happened, but, as you said, nothing much is likely to be done if you raise the matter formally. I hate to say it, but could you honestly not cope financially in the gap before State Pension kicks in? Most people can cope with a lot less than they think they can. One of my brothers did this when new systems were brought in when he was 3 years off retirement. It made him very unhappy. Could you take the occupational pension and get even a part-time job to fill in? Although some sectors have taken a hit, others are taking on staff. I recently met a former Detective Inspector from the Regional Crime Squad working in the local Waitrose. He said he was happy as Larry - a bad day at the office these days was when someone dropped a box of eggs in the aisle! Good luck with whatever you decide.

You don’t say how many years you have to work until retirement age but when that time comes the management will need to fill your position. Do you think that they may be easing this junior colleague into your position in readiness for that time?
As you can’t change how things are, it may be helpful to change your thinking.
I would make myself the mentor of this young colleague and help them in any way I could, while mentioning I was doing this to help them and for the smooth transition in the future.
Make a friend of them instead of feeling pushed out and anxious, be an active part of the new plan.

You didn’t say how long you had been in your job and I empathise with you. However as a previous company owner and manager of young staff. I completely embraced all their brilliant ideas and I learnt from them Situations are fluid as are ideas. I also learnt recently - as I’ve been coaching in the latter 10 years of my working life and I’m 66. that as a young person don’t go to person for coaching who is 20 years older than you as their ideas are older! and I’ve really taken the importance of that on. With your situation I would say either come up with your own bright and enthusiastic ideas as things change dramatically in work force places. And look above and beyond the indicators of your job. You could also be displaying unintentionally your unhappiness about having to work longer. I too did not get my pension at 60! Not a nice position you find yourself in and can be embraced and work on by you. You won’t hold youngsters back so learn to swim with them. I loved all the energy that my young team brought to the table. On saying all of this it might have been nice for the OP to run it by you - but if she’s not expected to then why blame her. Just my perspective!

This is a difficult one and my heart goes out to you for the hurt it is causing you. On one hand you have a wealth of experience which is valuable. On the other hand, your young colleague will have fresh ideas and enthusiasm to make her mark on the world. This often causes upset as the experienced member of staff feels like they are be pushed out whilst the less experienced one feels an impatience for progress. This can work badly if both or one party are resistant to cooperation but can be an excellent balance of skills where they can work together.
Is there any way that you can arrange a documented meeting with your colleague to discuss a way forward whereby you can acknowledge her breath of fresh air, listen to her ideas and make any changes which will enhance the way you all work? Maybe recognition of her skills will encourage her to recognise your.
I would probably also craft a carefully thought out email to my boss (copied to my home email so it cannot be lost on the server) which expressed my concerns that I was being sidelined and asking for an assurance that this wasn't so. Any talk of the new colleague having modern ideas can be met with a request for updated training. Document everything and any discussions should be followed up with an email summarising the outcomes.
By all means keep a journal but be careful you are not only focussing on the negative. Maybe reflect on the positive too to show that you are not just nitpicking.