If earning an income isn't an issue, should someone over the age of 55 seek a job? Is it fair to assume that given a finite number of jobs on the market, that a person who chooses to work for the sheer intellectual and social satisfaction of doing so, is in fact stealing employment from someone else who actually needs the salary (more)?
(I would argue no - for the same reason that women intending to either work part-time and/or stop work to raise a family are not cheating male counterparts out of a position of employment - but let's not go down that volatile slope! )
Does the answer depend on what type job that 50-something is seeking? I mean, a lawyer, for example, who decides to go back into some legal work after "retiring", is, in fact, continuing to pursue a skilled niche for which he/she was specifically trained - and therefore, perhaps, is only screwing over other, younger, would-be niche-grabbing attorneys. (yeah, yeah, and the joke goes: so what's wrong with that?)
But that same lawyer who decides to relax, ratchet things down a few notches, and enjoy a part-time job selling books in a retail bookstore - having been a lifelong bibliophile - is that ex-attorney swiping a needed job from someone who doesn't have the benefit of a higher education, and therefore has fewer employment options?
What if that bookstore job gives the retiree immense personal satisfaction, not to mention, boosts the sales of the store, because the 56 year old employee delights and pleases the customers with his joyful, depth of knowledge?
Are there any moral or social-consciousness reasons to lean one way or another, as a prospective employer, given equally qualified and legal choices for employees?
Is there a benefit to society as a whole, or merely to the individual retiree who voluntarily wishes to resume working, to offer coveted jobs to the older vs the younger?
(I would argue no - for the same reason that women intending to either work part-time and/or stop work to raise a family are not cheating male counterparts out of a position of employment - but let's not go down that volatile slope! )
Does the answer depend on what type job that 50-something is seeking? I mean, a lawyer, for example, who decides to go back into some legal work after "retiring", is, in fact, continuing to pursue a skilled niche for which he/she was specifically trained - and therefore, perhaps, is only screwing over other, younger, would-be niche-grabbing attorneys. (yeah, yeah, and the joke goes: so what's wrong with that?)
But that same lawyer who decides to relax, ratchet things down a few notches, and enjoy a part-time job selling books in a retail bookstore - having been a lifelong bibliophile - is that ex-attorney swiping a needed job from someone who doesn't have the benefit of a higher education, and therefore has fewer employment options?
What if that bookstore job gives the retiree immense personal satisfaction, not to mention, boosts the sales of the store, because the 56 year old employee delights and pleases the customers with his joyful, depth of knowledge?
Are there any moral or social-consciousness reasons to lean one way or another, as a prospective employer, given equally qualified and legal choices for employees?
Is there a benefit to society as a whole, or merely to the individual retiree who voluntarily wishes to resume working, to offer coveted jobs to the older vs the younger?
No comments:
Post a Comment