Agree, davelj, but try selling this to employers. Having always been a “cog,” I know my place in Cogville. However, most employers don’t think they need any more cogs or can just get more production out of the cog(s) they already have. The cogs they already have are complaining because they are being blamed for work not getting done due to retirements/layoffs, etc. and can’t easily take a vacation.
Slightly OT: If given the choice, employers will hire a young, inexperienced cog even if they desperately need an experienced cog. It all boils down to wages that a new cog might accept and percieved cost of health insurance. It never occurs to the employer that an experienced cog might be able to get the work done CORRECTLY in less hours and might already HAVE health insurance. They’re also CLUELESS about how much potential disability or FML that a younger, inexperienced cog might take in relation to an older cog. THE FACT IS, the younger cog takes MORE LEAVE, OF EVERY TYPE than the older cog and files MORE WORKERS COMPENSATION claims. I know this from experience and have laughed at employers before who have hired someone over me who went out on long-term leave within weeks or months of taking the position, causing them to repost it. This was the GRAND PLAN of the applicant from the get go, in order to qualify for SDI and FML for maternity purposes, never intending to return to work. This practice is perfectly legal (incl. non-disclosure at the time of hire of impending maternity needs).
Sure, tragedies such as cancer befall older cogs more. In this case, however, when the older cog leaves for treatment, they typically can qualify for SSD, never to return to work and thus do not tie up the position.
There are MANY older former cogs 50-65 years old (myself incl) that would LIKE to be a cog again (even pt. time) rather than self-employed or consulting but get beat out of even pt-time cog positions every time by know-nothing young cogs who think they are actually chiefs.
The boomer “shadow-cogs” are NOT COUNTED in the unemployment figures because they gave up long ago and thus are ineligible for UI. The general public and mainstream media does not really care about this issue because older “shadow cogs” typically have the tenacity, resources, wherewithal and prudence to eek out a living no matter what the economic conditions.
If you add this “shadow-cog” element into the mix, unemployment figures for this area might be 17% or more. There are MILLIONS of boomer “former shadow cogs.” We are mindful, healthy, have proper clothing, running cars, a place to live, don’t have problems keeping a schedule and can pass the “credit-check” test for employment. Regardless of everything I said here, employers, for the most part, are “enamored” of young “chief-applicants” they think they can turn into cogs at the expense of all other applicants. This will never change :={
