SEPTEMBER TIDBITS

Older Men and Employment

Maybe “55 is the new 40” when it comes to social engagements but in the work world, over 55 is a tough place to reside. Older men are facing discrimination in executive and administrative employment.

Nearly 80 percent of respondents say age is now a factor in finding higher wage employment. Before age 45, only 7 percent believe age is a factor. By age 55, 34 percent say age is a factor and from 45 to 60, 79 percent say age is a factor. (Source: USA Today)

It seems ironic that at a time when men (and women) would have the most value to their companies in terms of experience, knowledge and skills that they are being terminated. The same companies that say they are looking for people who can think critically are eliminating a critical asset in their workplace. The essential components of critical thinking, experience, knowledge and skills are thrown out with the older worker.

The percentage of men employed after age 54 has been dropping steadily and the main culprit appears to be the cost of health insurance. The difference in healthcare premiums between age 54 and 55 will cost a company an additional 50 percent or more in higher premiums. The higher costs have little to do with the actual health of the older person. The fees are based on statistical models that predict the likelihood of a serious illnesses occurring in various age groups.

Essentially, it is cheaper to hire people under 50; a company could have a work force twice as large given the savings in healthcare premiums. Other benefits, such as retirement and sick time, figure in as well making the older worker more of a liability than a value.

Without a universal approach to healthcare, it is unlikely that men will see a reversal of fortunes. Then again, given the war-like attitudes of the neo-cons, enough younger people may die over the 10 years to make it necessary to hire the over 50.

Variable Rates Starting to Take a Toll

Pity the fool was a popular quote from Mr. T on a TV show called the A-Team. This attitude may unfortunately now apply to those families that thought they could afford “starter castles” or homes that are outrageously large and expensive. Of course, the foolish part was buying these homes with exotic mortgages and variable rates that kept monthly obligations at a minimum. Until now.

Now, those rates are expiring or ballooning and monthly obligations are now forcing people into delinquency or worse, foreclosures. Pennsylvania currently has a 15.6 percent delinquency rate (defined as ARM loans 30 or more days past due). The national average is 12.2 percent. Sadly, these numbers are going up and have not yet peaked.

The states with rates under 10 percent include Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Washington and Oregon. States with rates over 20 percent include West Virginia, Mississippi and Louisiana.

If you are in a position to sell, get out before you are overwhelmed. The secondary (pre-owned) housing market has many attractive options that are affordable.

As always, buyers beware! If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

First Amendment

Here is the actual First Amendment to the US Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

That is a lot to say in such a short paragraph and easy to understand why it is so misunderstood. In one sweeping statement, the idea of religion, free speech, public assembly and having access to government is offered. The First Amendment would have had less misinterpretation if each thought would have been treated separately, but not nearly as much fun. Where would TV writers get ideas for their legal shows?

Looking at one component, the idea of free speech, people need to remember that there are limitations. For example, you do not have free speech at work or in school. Say negative things about your boss and you will probably lose your job. In schools, there is constant vigilance over what is written in school papers or even on the Internet.

Is it fair? Probably not, but it is understood that when you accept a paycheck or taxpayers are paying for public education, that there are boundaries and the need to respect culture. The idea of free speech allows us to have dialog with our friends without the worry of legal repercussions. Free speech is not a license to unfairly criticize or disrupt work or school; just freedom to have conversations.

The best lesson is to learn how to negotiate or to politic for changes. Free speech is not always welcome and may undermine any beneficial changes.

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© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC

PEOPLE WANT SOLUTIONS

Recently I was watching a talk show and one of the panelist stated that people are tired of hearing about problems; they want to hear about solutions. I’m sure they were referring to the mountains of political dialog that seems to center around the problems in the US and around the world. Certainly, solutions would be an outstanding contribution to moving our society forward.

Solutions take work and commitment. The “Founding Fathers” spent 4 months in the sweltering heat of a Philadelphia summer to create the Constitution of the United States (and then they were admonished for not creating a “Bill of Rights”). Not only was this effort completed under the stress of heat and debate but also without the interference of the press, lobbyists or the representatives’ families. Only weekends were reserved for families and some recreation; Monday morning everyone was back to work and so it went for 4 months.

The current US Congress will attempt to address a litany of issues while working less than 4 months for the entire year! Imagine if these legislators only worked on one social issue such as healthcare for 4 months. There’s a good chance a solution may be developed. But, when healthcare is one small part of a busy day of scheduled events, it is not likely to get the focus it deserves. It is no wonder that only problems are discussed during campaigning rhetoric.

Side note: For Congress to fix any problem, they will need to deal with a lobbying group. The number of registered lobbyists in Washington doubled from 2000 to 2005. In 2000, there were 16,342 registered lobbyists; by 2005, the number was 32,890. Bring up a topic and two sides are likely to appear.

America has become a society of sound bites and half-hour solutions. Television has created the impression that people can either make snap decisions to solve problems or they are too dumb to figure it out. (A Recent statistic in Time magazine stated that the average American watches 8.2 hours of TV every day!) As a result, people grow bored with problem-solving that may take weeks, months or even years. The prevailing attitude is to throw enough money at the problem and either it gets fixed or it goes away.

People are not widgets. Attitudes, behaviors and change take time, hard work and a developed level of trust. Unlike technology, people are not replaced by using new parts. Most key people are powerful and influential and not likely to surrender their views without proof that a new solution has value.

To create a solution with value takes more resources than currently exists in most venues. The time to dissect a problem to manageable components, create a solution at each level and then stitch the solutions back together for an “ultimate” approach is not possible. There are insufficient human and capital resources to fund such an effort. It will take too long and people will lose interest; waning interest also means waning financing.

As dreadful as this may appear, finding solutions is not a lost art. Most of what we appreciate today in terms of better health, better living and more of everything is a result of decades of solution hunting. By discussing problems in a rational and open way, people start thinking about positive outcomes. Progress has been made.

Hence, our problems, or finding solutions, are two-fold. First, results are not always immediate and people need to exercise patience. (It was once said that patience is the control of passion.) Rarely will we experience a quick and satisfying solution. Action is necessary to provide a direction. Once a direction is forged, it is always necessary to tweak the course to gain the best results.

Second, we need better dialog not just rhetoric. Like most people I am tired of every issue being turned into a new catch phrase like “smear and fear.” Let it go; start discussing issues without a self-serving agenda. “What’s in it for me” is a customer catch phrase not a phrase for decision-makers.

America and most of the world has the resources to take care of its entire people. The problems no one can overcome are greed and laziness.

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GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE

© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC