I was told my Job position was terminated today

[samplegirl]

at Rite Aid. I was the Wellness Ambassador there and that I must work until Friday in order to get my severance pay. Amazing if I wanted to quit I would have to give them a 2 week notice I got three days left to work. We worked everyday to make money for this company in this position.

Gotta love Corporate America!!!

Rite Aid was bought out by Walgreens so in order for it not to look like a monopoly Walgreens sold 872 Rite Aids to Fred Pharmacy based out of Tennessee.

Everyone wants to be a corporate giant! Making America Great Again Folks!!!
I am 4 months short of turning 60 who is going to hire me????? I'm tired of trying to reinvent myself.

[redstateblues]

1. Sorry to hear that.

[wcmagumba]

2. Just turned 60...

unemployed 6 months, only prospects, low pay, retail, telemarketing, janitorial...fun...

[delisen]

5. I am sorry to hear this but am glad you are telling us.

How are you going about a new job search ?

[irisblue]

3. I am sorry those creeps rolled on you.

[scscholar]

4. Must work till Friday?

More like an only have to work till Friday since you get the severance pay. Look on the bright side.

[former9thward]

16. The severance pay is probably not very much.

Maybe she wants a full time job more than a few crumbs of severance pay. There is not a bright side.

[redwitch]

6. I'm so sorry!

No notice too, how shitty of them.

[BainsBane]

7. I'm so sorry

[aikoaiko]

8. That has to be frustrating and scary. Sorry and good luck.

Wish I had more to offer you.

[delisen]

9. Four more days with a company that has just let you know they don't even care enough about you to

give decent notice can't be pleasant.

How do you begin looking for a ne job?

[Hortensis]

10. Very sorry, Samplegirl.

[Solly Mack]

11. Well, that blows.

I am sorry they did you this way.

Corporations are legally people (for some purposes) but if actual people behaved the way corporations tend to behave, decent people wouldn't have anything to do with them.

I'm pulling for you!

[a kennedy]

12. I am so sorry for you......

[CountAllVotes]

13. Fuckers!!!!!

Very sad to read this! Bastards! Shame on them! It ain't easy once you hit 60 and are a woman!

[Generic Other]

14. We live in such godawful times

I hope you can get unemployment. Screw corporate America.

[Sherman A1]

15. Sorry that happened to you

This is just another example of why Unions are so vitally important.

[milestogo]

17. Never give up.

I was laid off in May last year, age 60.

Took me 7 months, over 200 applications, 25 interviews to finally get a contract job in my field. I am hoping to go permanent in 3 more months.

Yes, a lot of employers discriminate, but not every single one. I did take a job in retail just before this one came through. Retail discriminates less than a lot of other fields.

Never give up.

[sarcasmo]

18. Working for your self is the best route.

Many caregiver positions.

[stopbush]

77. Three words: health insurance expenses

[renate]

19. I'm really sorry

I would have to think that your experience with health and wellness would be useful in lots of positions, for example with a corporate wellness program. But I hate that you have to go looking because of decisions made by people who have never met you. It sucks so much that this was sprung on you like this.

[George II]

20. Keep your eye on them, make sure they don't hire a younger person in a similar job.

[brer cat]

21. I'm sorry

and also angry that this was done to you. People now are treated like tissue, used and thrown away. I hope you will find something else soon.

[luvMIdog]

22. So sorry that happened to you & I hope things get better for you very soon

[MyNameIsKhan]

23. this sucks, sorry to hear this samplegirl.

[mnhtnbb]

24. I am sorry you were treated like that. It seems to be acceptable corporate behavior.

My oldest son has had it done twice to him--only he was terminated without severance--walked out the door by HR one morning
on one job and told when he left a retail computer store at 7 PM not to come back the next morning. He, though, was young
and IT savvy, so he managed to find a job without much difficulty both times.

Network. Get in touch with friends and neighbors and tell everyone you know you're looking for a job. Plan to spend part of your day
working on finding a new job and sign up to volunteer somewhere doing something for a cause for several hours/week until you find
that new job. Plan to exercise every day, even if it's only going out for a walk.

Come here and tell us how it's going. It's a shit way to be treated, but don't let them win by getting down on yourself.

Good luck!

[samplegirl]

32. Thank you to all the good and kind D. U.ers

Don't know what I would of done without this group all these years!!

[Lanius]

25. Monopolies and the concentration of wealth are the ends of unfettered capitalism

[smirkymonkey]

26. I'm so sorry this happened to you sample girl.

It's so wrong the way corporations treat people these days. And now the government wants to take our SS and Medicare away from us too? What do they expect us all to do? They just keep making it harder and harder for us.

I wish you the best of luck and I hope you find something soon!

[sinkingfeeling]

27. I'm very sorry. Soon there will be nothing except monopolies. Choice

is eine eliminated.

[BobTheSubgenius]

28. My condolences and best wishes.

I thought an employee giving 2 weeks noticewas just a courtesy. Is that not true where you are?

[Lotusflower70]

29. I am so sorry to hear that

I know it sucks right now. Sending positive thoughts and healing vibes. I lost my job in 2011. I went through a boatload of interviews and sending resumes. But I got a job 10 months later. I had to commute for a year before I relocated but all the suckiness was worth it in the end. Hang in there. Be well and take care of you.

[DownriverDem]

30. Don't see people

I work in the corporate world and the bottom line seems to rule. I came back from the holidays & found that the supervisor & HR person were gone. They came in one morning & were told they were let go. They hired one person to do both the positions. So cut throat. Good luck to you in your job search.

[DK504]

67. This is insane.

How can our government keep allowing the mergers? We need a president in office that stops these mergers and break up these conglomerates from forming.These mergers aren't about the basic stockholders fiduciary responsibilities, it is about the CEO's, the Board of Directors and the top stckholders.

[Jim__]

31. Sorry to hear that.

[WillowTree]

33. Sorry to hear it. How much severance are they giving you?

[rwsanders]

34. as a wellness ambassador, if you would allow me to make a suggestion...

I'd look at not-for-profits in your area. Most cities have them. Even shelters for abused women might be interested. Don't give up, I just started career 3. I love it, but I've never worked so hard in my life. I just started as a Physical Therapist about 2 years ago (thanks to the GI bill) in my 50's. But it is fun to see people get better, sometimes in 1 visit with no drugs and no surgery.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

35. I feel your pain.

And there are so many of us complaining that something may happen to address this growing problem. The assumption that a new career can be prepped for in your 60's is ridiculous.

I wish you the best of luck.

[grossproffit]

36. You're not required to give notice when you quit a job. I'm very sorry about your job.

[Ilsa]

37. I'm so very sorry.

My husband got a little scared over a re-org this week, but he's safe. His group performs well and makes money, so I guess they'll keep him.

Hang in there. I have a friend out of work for three years. Now she's working with a national tax preparer and driving for either Uber or Lyft. Getting by, but no frills and no insurance after having had cancer. Think about your options, other skills you have. Good luck.

[Honeycombe8]

42. Isn't it dangerous to drive for Uber or Lyft?

I just wonder.....picking up strangers. I thought about doing that, but then I thought it might be too dangerous.

[Ilsa]

47. It depends on your location.

My friend drives in a college town, tops out around 100,000 when fall and spring sessions are in. Lots of international students who don't have licenses or cars use the service.

Another thing you could do besides uber or lyft would be to advertise in assisted living facilities. Safer clientele.

[Honeycombe8]

49. Excellent suggestion. Thanks.

[cannabis_flower]

59. Not as dangerous..

As driving a taxi because Uber and Lyft drivers don't carry any cash. I do Ubereats and Postmates to supplement my substitute teacher job. Not quite as much money but no one rides in your car. And you can have an older car. I made over $350 last week in payouts and tips.

[Honeycombe8]

71. Thanks. I have a Honda Fit, so not that comfy, but all right. Cute car...

but can't pick up a group of people.

I just thought about doing that part time, for extra money. Maybe offering services to the elderly would be safer.

[cannabis_flower]

72. Delivering food

Is much easier than offering services for the elderly.

[Honeycombe8]

86. Thanks for the tip. nt

[badhair77]

38. I am so sorry this is happening to you, samplegirl.

I agree with the person who said earlier to fight the urge to just stay home and to yourself. It might be tough but it will keep you in contact with people who can give you moral support. I hope you find a great job soon.

Best wishes to you and the others on this thread who are facing the same situation.

[zentrum]

39. This is very wrong.

A society that treats its elders like this is a broken society.

[Honeycombe8]

40. I am so sorry to hear this. I hope you find something. It is possible.

You don't say what you did at Rite Aid. But if you have a good job history and experience at doing something, a skill or something, you may well get hired.

I got re-hired at 58. Made less money, but I still got a job quickly. So don't lose hope.

Look energetic and healthy....that's the main thing. Don't fit the mold of what people think of as old.

Let us know what happens.

[2naSalit]

41. I'm sorry to hear that...

I have been there so many times in my 60 years (53 of them as a working person and not always w/pay) but I have come to realize that there is no stability at this stage in the life of a capitalist system. I have come to understand that I will never have a long term occupation of any sort unless you count freelance. Which is how I survive now. I was able to get some seasonal jobs relative to my education and have enjoyed them and learn a lot from them.

It's scary, I know from long years of experience of reinventing myself too, but for some reason i have recently decided that I should seek out the things I enjoy doing and in the place I prefer and do whatever I can to make ends meet. I don't have much but I am thankful that I can live on minimal gains... because I have what I need to actually sustain the life in my body and enough energy to be helpful to others. I had to live in a dorm at my job last summer, I have managed to live in little cabins alone for decades, but when I was looking for housing at the end of the job, I realized I couldn't afford to do that in the new location. I now live in a nicer house than I have in quite some time, I have housemates but we're out in the sticks, where I want to be, now I have help with stuff that I would struggle with at this age. We're all the same age so we seem to have a commonality to our relations ship as a group. I didn't think I'd like it but I have been far more relaxed and I am finding more opportunities than the last place I was living for a dozen years or so. I'm using skills that I haven't used in a very long time and I'm having fun with them this time, I never thought that was possible before because I always saw using those skills as work, I guess.

I hope that there are opportunities that arise for you, perhaps some you hadn't thought of, and that they can lead you to a better situation really soon.

[frankieallen]

45. you've been working since you were 7 ? did you walk to school uphill both ways too? :-)

[Canoe52]

51. Good for you and glad you made it through!

Hugs to you.

[2naSalit]

54. Thank you...

I shouldn't have laid that on everyone, though. I think the smarm was over the top at the time. I think I'll delete that.

back atcha.

[calimary]

43. Aw shit. I'm so sorry to hear this.

"Gotta love Corporate America" indeed.

Thanks but no thanks.

Can you give yourself a couple of days to catch your breath? Be gentle with yourself.

Now, perhaps, you can get out and meet some new people. May I recommend one of the Indivisible groups in your area? Not just for activism, but perhaps meeting some new people might mean meeting some new opportunities?

[Poiuyt]

46. I heard there was a big shakeup at Humana today too

No details, but a lot of people lost their jobs today.

[Ilsa]

48. I think their merger with Aetna got blocked by courts. nt

[shenmue]

52. I am sorry

[bdamomma]

53. Samplegirl

so sorry to hear your news we are here if you need us. That just rots.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

55. I am sorry you are losing your job,

but I was hired several times after age 60. Six times, to be specific. Although I was also fired twice, the only times I've ever been fired in my life.

And I actually turned down a job at age 66 because their idea of part time was 30 hours a week, and I wanted only 20. The woman would have hired me on the spot had I been willing. She later called me up and had me work a week as a fill-in person.

Without knowing anything about your job history I certainly can't offer specific advice, but a person really can get hired at an older age.

And, even if it's only entry level and just barely above minimum wage (although I hope you can do better than that) you'll be vastly better off continuing to work and not collecting Social Security until at least age 66, maybe longer.

[samplegirl]

56. I need all my D. U. Friends at this

Time because I feel so all alone😭

[democrank]

57. Sorry youre going through this.

Maybe some good will come of it. Best of luck to you.

[dembotoz]

58. But reinvent you must

Hang till Friday to get the severance and not burn bridges
I laugh when I see folks who fret because their college kids have not committed to a major...

Maybe u will find something u actually like and this could be the best thing that ever happened

[brewens]

60. One of the guys I went to school with that everyone loved turned total asshole.

He ended up owning several Godfathers pizza places with some partners. When they sold out, one was shut down. The people working there found out when they tried to show up for work!

Amazing they couldn't even give them any heads up. I never talked to him about it but a guy that stays in touch with him said they were afraid they wouldn't have a crew to run the place the last couple of weeks if they told them. Amazing. He was well off enough to buy an Outback Steakhouse and is running that now. So for what couldn't have been more than a few hundred bucks to him, he totally fucked his crew at the pizza place.

[Peacetrain]

61. I am so sorry...

What a nightmare

[samplegirl]

62. Ohio is not a good place to

find work!

[SharonClark]

63. I've been laid off twice and it was scary, the last time was 7 years ago when I was in my late 50's

A severance package gives you breathing time. I knew the next job would be my last and it is because I'm retiring at the end of this year.

My free advice, that you are free to ignore - Try to stay positive and look for the positive, look for new work daily, tell everyone you meet you are looking for a new job, do something physical daily, do something that brings you joy every day, and do not dwell on Trump.

I hope you find something you enjoy doing and work at it as long as you want or need. Please let us know how you are doing.

[lillypaddle]

64. Ouch. That hurts

Best of luck to you.

[LisaM]

65. I'm sorry.

I have a friend who is a Wellness Ambassador and she is terrified.

[samplegirl]

89. Eventually

She will get canned as well! Warn her they were only keeping the ones in high traffic areas for now! But she will eventually lose her job by July.

[Demsrule86]

66. So sorry.

I have a Rite Aide in my town.

[WestCoastDem42]

68. Good luck!!

[lark]

69. My sister's 63 and is getting terminated from BofA at the end of this month after 32 years.

She's in good health and is single and wanted to work until she's 70 since she lost sooo much money in the recession. She's a CPA, sharp as a tack, hard working and a perfectionist, however has had no responses to the 30 resumes she's sent out. Any company would be lucky to have such a smart, sweet, dedicated employee. So sad for her and you too.

[The Wielding Truth]

73. I bet if we had universal health care there would be less age discrimination - if any.

[lark]

88. Yep.

I'm feeling it at work too, but I intend to retire this year anyway, so am trying to just let it roll off my back. I just have to make it to May and I'm ok. The only thing I'm worried about is if the ACA ends because we were counting on that for coverage for my husband who's younger than me and can't retire for years and has no benefits at his job.

Thanks drumpf and R's for making so many Americans fear for their ability to afford the healthcare they need, you mean and corrupt assholes.

[heather blossom]

70. Sorry to heat that

I found myself in a similar situation several years ago. It took me 8 months to find a job with a 30% pay cut. The job I found was without a doubt the worst I ever had. Thank God for being able to draw SS at 62. I did want to work longer but the situation was untenable.
Its hard to find a job when you are older. Good luck, I wish you well.

[ymetca]

74. Yep, I'm 56 and my job was "offshored" in January

after I overhauled and completely fixed/automated a small financial company's data transfer system mess. Then I trained my replacements, who are a couple of nice young fellows from India, sharing a hotel room and green cards.

Everyone talks about bringing manufacturing jobs back, but our tertiary sector workers are being absolutely thrown under the bus these days. Especially us older ones. We all know that companies are simply projecting health care costs and getting away with age discrimination, and exploiting the H1B Visa program to avoid having to hire American college grads.

It's the Republican immigration "plan" to renege on investing in our own country's children, because it is cheaper for business to use educated kids from other countries. We only want to let in "the right people", as our so-called president says. Hint, hint. Say no more.

My Grandmother worked as an executive secretary for 40 years at the same company, retired at 65 and lived on Social Security and Medicare until she was 93. My father worked for the same company for 23 years, then got let go at age 62. He had to take "early retirement" (i.e. less Social Security money) just to survive. He worked right up until the day he died, aged 76.

I haven't worked for any company more than 10 years before some "strategic shift" caused me to lose my job. Most companies now place an employee's ROI (Return on Investment) at about 5 to 7 years. After that, they consider you a "diminishing return", which needs to be "turned over". They get away with this by shifting job descriptions around, relocating facilities, or whatever it takes to "shed" their looming "human resource liabilities".

At one company I worked for, they "proved" there was no age discrimination in their mass layoffs by firing many more younger, low-paid workers than they did all their highly paid IT workers. But in my department, all of us longer-term, older IT employees were picked right out and let go. Neat trick, that.

So for all of us tail-end Baby Boomers, who have been working all these years, paying into the system, it's basically, "sorry, but there's just not enough for you." Oh, and f*ck your kids too.

American Business --where Democracy stops at the door.

[left-of-center2012]

75. I have several 'senior citizen' friends ...

I have several 'senior citizen' friends who work for home health agencies.
They are hired as 'companions', not home health aides.

They're employed based upon their life experience ~ and who at 60 doesn't have enough experience to be
a 'companion' to someone in need.

I saw this on the Maxim Home Health website but a lot of agencies use companions:
"Companion - A companion serves a non-medical role in a patient’s life.
... to seniors, new and expectant parents, and other individuals.

Companions perform duties such as reminder services (medications, dates, routines), assisting with mobility, providing companionship,
preparing meals and feeding, escorting to appointments, organizing and reading mail, entertaining, and more."

With a lot of us aging, home health is a growing job opportunity.

[sheshe2]

76. So sorry samplegirl.

Sending positive vibes your way.

[FakeNoose]

78. Make sure you apply for unemployment benefits immediately

This is a terrible predicament and I feel very bad for you. But be sure to make those fuckers pay every cent they owe you. Have they paid you for your vacation? You're allowed vacation & holidays if you work full-time, so they have to pay you for them. The Unemployment office is (maybe) not a pleasant experience, but don't delay going. Get signed up for the benefits your taxes support.

Good luck and God Bless!

[CTyankee]

79. I was fired from my last job at age 65. I collected unemploment and looked for other work

to no avail. So I started working part time with an organization I had volunteered with. It lasted a while and I liked it but now I am fully retired and taking care of a partially handicapped husband. I like not having to get up and go to work every day. I am now in my late 70s and just don't give a shit any more.

[Enoki33]

80. I think l understand from personal experience some of what

you are going through. Some years ago l reacted by telling corporate America to go to hell with them and their absolute lack of humanity and gambled on working for myself. I'm still telling them to go to hell by not copying them. Survival is deep within us all. I wish you luck, health and prosperity. Don't let the bastards beat you.

[Vinca]

81. My brother got a great job a year or so ago and he's now 64.

It took him a while to find it and now he'd just as soon be retired but he says he's staying on the job because of "golden handcuffs." It pays really, really well. Don't be discouraged by your age. It might take longer, but you're not a lost cause.

[Skittles]

82. I have been under a layoff culture for over two decades

I am so fed up with my nationality being a liability

[littlebit]

83. My mother lost her job when she was 59.

She was able to find a job as a customer service rep for the energy company here. It doesn't pay near what she was making but it's something. Maybe you might be able to find something like that.

[sueh]

84. I'm so sorry, samplegirl.

This is horrible. Corporate America stinks to high heaven!

[GetRidOfThem]

85. Hi - sorry to here about this, I feel badly for you

The first thing you have to do is not blame yourself, or devalue yourself in front of you.

It's a shit system we have here, and regular workers are at the short end of the stick. It's not your fault, it's just the way it is.

In my city, there is a local retail hardware store were I see plenty of young plus a few years locals hired, of both sexes, and those that are not hardware experts run the cash register. This is a locally run True Value store. The whole ownership of the store is run in a deeply liberal framework.

No, I am not in a small town. I am in Washington, D.C., and the store I am talking about is Frager's Hardware on Capitol Hill. See if you have a good local hardware retailer that is tied to the community.

I don't know much else about your circumstances, I am just throwing out an idea...

[Yo_Mama]

87. I am very sorry, a few suggestions for you.

First, I really am TERRIBLY sorry to hear your news.

My suggestions are - don't freak. Believe in yourself. Sit down and create a functional resume.

Sign up with some temp agencies while you are slapping resumes out there.

Don't neglect applications to medical practices as long as you are computer literate. There are a lot of them with intermediate positions, and that seems like a natural fit for you. You can just look up medical buildings, and walk in and dump resumes off at the desk of the practices - ask if you can fill out an application for later if they don't have an

If you are not good with computers, brush up.

Keep a good attitude and believe in yourself. A lot of older workers are more in demand now as long as we seem physically fit and motivated. Some of the younger crew don't have much on the ball. If you walk in, look alert, confident, energetic and motivated, you may be snapped right up.

Sit down and think about this - what are your weakest points? If your typing is not that hot, don't consider that a roadblock - just search online for typing training, and in three weeks it will probably be a lot better!

While you are looking for work, make sure to set up a routine in which you exercise every day, put in applications every day, and check in with temporary employment possibilities every day.

Make sure your eyeglasses/contact lens prescriptions are up to snuff. Having trouble seeing things harms confidence and may make you look uncertain. Practice posture/walking to ensure you seem vigorous and confident.

I think you will probably do well, but I understand the shock.