Old? Who you Calling Old?

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Pregnant through the 90's then driving car pool through the millenium, Mayer is the sometimes proud, often embarrassed mom of four kids, ages little league through SATs. Remarkably, she's still married to their dad ... as of this posting. Once upon a time, before life hit her square in the face, she was a copywriter. Here are her trials and tribulations of a working life.

Old? Who you Calling Old?

Posted on January 26, 2009

With layoffs looming with every LinkedIn and Facebook request, I’m not sure whether I just know more people, or if I’m at “that age” where my demographic is the one quickly targetted for immediate, efficient cost-savings.

Fired. Outsourced.

Bought out. Early retirement.

Downsized. Packages?

Laid Off. Resourced.

Eliminated.

It’s easy to cut the old guys; we often make more money, don’t understand reality tv or Twitter, require more health benefits, and actually use family leave and personal and sick days for ailing parents or children or spouses.

Long considered dead weight on a sinking ship, we're a somewhat obvious call. Fire the old guys. Except when you don’t really want that ship . . . or plane . . . to sink.

Case in Point: US Airways Flight 1549.

That flight . . . that beautiful, graceful flight landed miraculously . . . if you believe in that sort of thing . . . not in, but on the Hudson, manned and woman-manned by an experienced, seasoned – yes, even OLDer – crew. Yes luck, or miracles, and a serendipitous river may have had something to do with it, but more-so did the combined 35,306 flight hours of the pilot and co-pilot, and the combined 92 years of experience the flight attendants accumulated over their tenure.

In these trying times, go ahead, add fresh, new, cutting-edge and yes, cost effective employees to a company. Do more with less. Merge, combine, downsize and blend. But it is absolutely negligent to dismiss the years of been there, done that experience seasoned professionals bring to the table. Just as we often dismiss our parents as out-of-touch and behind-the-times, perhaps it would be beneficial to pause, reflect, and remember: been there, done that could actually add value, save time, energy, the almighty dollar, and perhaps even lives.

Families in Charlotte, in New York, and around the world are sitting at their kitchen tables today because of how well Flight 1549 did their job. Thank you isn't nearly enough, but words are all I have.

Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger, III Age 58, joined US Airways (PSA Airlines) in 1980. He has a total of 19,663 flights hours

First officer Jeffrey B. Skiles Age 49, joined US Airways (USAir) in 1986. He has a total of 15,643 flight hours.

Flight attendant, Shelia Dail Age 57, joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1980 and has more than 28 years experience with the airline.

Flight attendant, Doreen Welsh Age 58, joined US Airways (Allegheny Airlines) in 1970 and has more than 38 years experience with the airline.

Flight attendant, Donna Dent Age 51, joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1982 and has more than 26 years experience with the airline.

http://www.usairways.com/awa/Content/en-US/information/home6.html