My firm treated me as dispensable after I turned 40

I, as a middle-aged worker, used to experience unfair treatment at my former company. At first, I thought it might be because I was in my 40s and lagging behind the younger generation, so I made my best efforts to learn new skills, change my mindset, and develop professionally. I was even willing to change positions and relocate to meet my firm’s increasingly high demands. I also did not hesitate to take on more work to prove my value and commitment.

However, instead of being recognized, I gradually realized that the company's real intention was to pressure older workers like me to quit or squeeze as much value from us as possible. This approach is common among businesses looking to push middle-aged workers out.

For some companies, mass layoffs are difficult to pull off because severance pay can be costly, especially for employees on indefinite contracts. They also need to ensure a smooth transition of work without disrupting operations. Therefore, to minimize costs, many shift the burden onto workers instead.

In my case, the company assigned me an excessive workload, kept adding more tasks, relocated me to a distant office, and required overtime without additional pay. This was intended to push me into resigning voluntarily, saving them compensation costs. They even had me train new employees for a while before leaving me without work for an extended period to justify paying me a meager salary.

Through job applications and interviews, I came to understand how the labor market now perceives middle-aged workers. No matter where I went, I could only last a short time. Older workers with extensive experience often expect higher salaries, making them costlier to companies. Businesses prefer to hire fresh graduates with little experience but significantly less expectation.

Rather than continue job-hopping, I chose to step away from traditional employment and transition to freelance work. It took about five years of preparation, and the shift was not easy. However, I finally feel a sense of relief. I no longer feel unwanted, at the mercy of my employer, or forced to endure mistreatment just to get by.

Have you experienced unfair treatment from employers due to your age?

*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.