Usurped at work by younger person

Yes, it could be a Union matter, but first arrange a meeting with your new boss to 'clarify your role'. Take notes and make it clear that you feel you have been left out of discussion about the new work plan. Email boss afterwards with outline of what you have discussed/agreed - an email is as legally binding as a letter. If you have any concerns about being manoeuvred out of your role include them in the email. Then keep your own notes if there are any future problems. But try and embrace your role and keep positive so you can't be accused of not being a team player. Hopefully there is plenty of work for all of you.

You're reaching the end of your working life. Of course your replacement is being considered. It doesn't sound like you're being pushed out, but it's perfectly natural that you're being expected to help train and develop her. Try not to take it as an insult.

I'd look for another job just to tide me over until retirement. I certainly wouldn't stay to be humiliated like that. They can't even be honest about the situation. It's disgusting, I hope they fail miserably.

I too went through a similar situation. I left, It was a weight off my mind, I hadn't realised how awful it was until I left. I discussed the financial issues with my husband, and we decided we could cope on on salary, (family having flown the nest some time ago) and with his solid support I went to art school and have never felt happier.
Incidentally, my husband took early retirement (with a golden handshake)
It seemed a big step at the time, and I later found that the young man who I partnered with blamed me for all his mistakes! Good luck

QuotePeasblossom Sun 04-Apr-21 13:35:25
New bosses tend to do this. They want to build “their team”

I have this too. Our coordinator has a very difficult job, so we tend to get a big turn over of them. I'm freelance, so this happens in the 4 places of my work. A new co. will come in, we have to have a meeting of introduction [again!] They then re-do the schedule without much or any consultation. I/we then have to re-schedule our whole weeks work to fit in this new one, around our already established one!!

Haven't read past first page, but very good advise. I know how you feel due to another situation in my life, not work though, but feeling that my position in the family was being superseded by a newbie.

Best of luck with dealing with this xx

I'm in a young persons world of business. I turned 66yrs in Feb. and am most likely the oldest in all the teams, but with the most knowledge in my field. Off work for almost a year due to the lockdown. Never thought about retiring when I got my state pension [no other pension], thought I'd carry on as usual. But this last year, with stopping my very busy working life, has made me feel my age and has made me think about fully retiring.

Work coming back in now, so will continue part time, as everything is completely deferent now anyway, and won't get all my work back. So I have many that I have taught seemingly superseding me, but thankfully lots see my 50yrs knowledge more appealing & rewarding, then the new.

Such interesting post!

For you lifebeginsat60

How awful for you Jelly

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has posted such kindness and good counsel. It has made me feel so much better. It does make me sad to hear that my experience is shared by so many others but I'm heartened by the resilience so many of you describe and applaud the solutions you have found. What has risen to the surface for me is that it's not so much about what was done but how it was done

...and by whom it was done. You have clarified that for me so thank you.
There are more important things going on in the world right now and I hope you lovely people stay safe and well.

I'm late coming to this but know if you want to allege constructive dismissal you do need a lot of evidence, so the advice on logging incidents is very valuable. I don't think this one instance would provide enough reason. Details are here www.gov.uk/dismissal/unfair-and-constructive-dismissal
I would suggest that perhaps you could try being as supportive as possible to the young person. She's probably waiting for you to get back at her, not fulfilling her expectations will completely confuse her.
As you said work roles are quite flexible could you perhaps look carefully to see if there is something else you could take on? Throwing yourself into something new might bring you more work satisfaction (and show you are still a person to be reckoned with) Good Luck!

I agree with previous advice and keep a journal of what has happened on a daily basis. It does sound as though they are trying to push you out! Don’t let them, although you say it is not a union matter, if you are a member speak with them as constructive dismissal is a union matters d you will have support from them, if you aren’t in a union then join now and ask for their help. Your company will have to be answerable for their actions, it is making you unsettled in your job, it might be that you want to leave after what has happened but you will be entitled to compensation if you have been treated unfairly. I am not normally a fan of unions but I think you could benefit from being in one. Good luck, don’t let the b......s get you down as the saying goes.

If the new Boss is also younger than you, I'm afraid you're on the losing side here. I've found that, whenever I've had to go for a interview and the 'Manager' is in his/her 20/30's you know full well that you will not get that job. Think about it! If you came up with a more experienced and workable vision it will undermine the younger people. I would keep a journal as Nonogran said but consider looking at something else that may be less money but also less stress until you reach SPA. No point arriving at SPA only to be suffering burn-out. If you havent got long to go I would say concentrate on what kind of retirement you want to enjoy.

I'm afraid that I have found that confronting things head on and dealing with them honestly is NOT an effective way to work. It is the way I am, but so many colleagues are not honest. I realised this years ago when there was an upcoming promotion at work. 3 of us applied for it. One was the favourite and was in the bosses pocket. She had several private meetings with him and was tipped for the promotion. I grumbled to a colleague about this and lo and behold, my comment was passed on as gossip (this was not my intention, I was just having a chat). The gossip obviously reached management and they clearly decided that they couldn't be seen to show favouritism and she didn't get the promotion (I didn't either, BUT the person that did won it on merit, which was OK with me).

Same thing happened again where I work now. One employee was a back stabber. Constantly feeding back to management about other employees. One of whom broke under the pressure, had a breakdown and probably won't return to work. This time, I talked to another colleague, passing on the 'other side' about the back stabber and also letting the colleague know how the BS was not performing well (missing shifts, acting inappropriately). Lo and behold, the BS was sacked after 6 months. To be honest, I thought he was getting away with it and was just keeping my head down, but then... he was gone.

Let me add, I don't like working this way. I would much rather work in a meritocracy and as part of a good team, but unfortunately, it's a dog eat dog world.

I too found myself sidelined in a career because my type of professional qualifications had been overtaken by a degree. I decided with regret that it would be necessary for me to step off the professional ladder from 3/4 years and gain a degree. In my case I felt angry and bitter that the the employer was cynically writing off experienced and qualified staff members in favour of younger incomers who had a bit of paper we did not have. I wasnt the only person affected.

While I was applying to universities I began to gradually slack off and disengage from my efforts in work. I stopped doing any "extras" and simply worked the hours I was paid for. I slowed down to half speed. I no longer volunteered to organize this and that or offered my advice and expertise. So some things were left undone and piled up. I watched this happening without regret because I knew that part of the job was behind me. I treated the job as other posters have suggested here. Think of what happens as preparation for the road to retirement and the process of gradually letting go in your case. This will give you more time to develop other interests and relationships which will eventually replace the job.

I gained high academic honours in university and became an academic. I never returned to my former role. When I did eventually retire from employed work I established my own small business. So a new direction.

New bosses want new, young workers they can train to “their”way of working, which means the old guard get sidelined, not promoted regardless of being more experienced. It’s going to happen to many of us male and female, I did nearly 40 yrs NHS, continuous cost cutting and never enough staff to do job properly. Too much stress so took early retirement and drew the pension, content doing easy part time now.

Unfortunately the social contract - whereby employers looked after employees who had served faithfully - died long ago.

Ive seen a lot of threads (not just on this forum) where someone has left a stressful and demanding job, taken early retirement, and then later taken a P/T one filling the shelves in the supermarket or similar. Nothing wrong with that - goods can't sell if no one puts them out. Many older people are still physically active and need the money and the company of work.

But there is something to be said for a routine job where you turn up, do the hours, go home and forget about it! It will help pay the bills and leave you free to develop other interests. You just have to get past the feeling that you are no longer valued or "on the scrap heap".