Can someone explain to me the idea of layoffs based on seniority?

I hate those headphones in newsrooms.

You can't even pick a good fight anymore.

 

It's a copout. It allows management to say, "Nothing personal, but you were the last hired."

 

What I always thought -- and I could definitely be wrong -- is that they believe it would be easier for a younger employee to find another job than a 50+.

Not too many 50+ hirings going on out there.

 

Actually, management would love to get rid of the oldest hire. The oldest hire is likely making the most money and has accumulated the most leave. This prevents that. It's far from perfect but I like it better than the randomness that is quality of work.

 

I'd reclassify that from "working theory" to "bullshit they tell themselves to justify what they want to do."

 

Age discrimination plays a factor too... It's almost never the oldest person who is let go, at least not if they're over 50, or maybe 55.

 

I understand the pros and cons of unions protecting senior employees. But from a macro point of view I support it. Everytime I see someone over 55 lose a job in any industry I wonder if they will ever work anywhere better than Home Depot.

 

That's my point, too. You see a 50+ lose a job, and all I can think is, "paper or plastic?"

 

Considering the young 'n cheap mentality of hirings, it's pretty obvious. Even a certain paper in my state capital that returned my resume and clips unopened 20 years ago because it had my dorm address on it, has been going that route.