70-year-old employee is interviewed for a higher-paying position only for it to be given to an employee 40-years-younger: 'It’s not like I didn’t know the reason I wasn’t chosen'

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Olivia Arocena • Writer and Editor
Jul 3, 2026 1:45 PM EDT

How are we treating our elders?

I didn't fully grasp the depth of this question. I used to put people into different categories: The elderly (those who already had all the time to build their lives) and the young (those who need opportunities to climb the ladder). Only lately have I begun to realize that that perspective is shortsighted. You can be old and really need an opportunity; life is just as precious to you as to the youngest. And you can be really young and not need opportunities because you have many. It's more complex than just your age; we need to look at each case individually and decide afterwards. Of course, the world keeps spinning, and most of the time it doesn't align with perfect ethical values, yet still one has to adapt to it, and that's precisely what this employee is trying to do, while also reflecting on what the motives are driving his company's actions.

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  • 01
    old man in white t-shirt holding black metal tray
    via Carl Barcelo

    Model representing the old employee working

  • 02

    What is the most disrespectul thing an employer did to you?

    Recently I interviewed for a higher paying position at the company I now work for. This would have big a huge increase in pay and status and it was a job I was very qualified for. I was told at the end of the interview how well I had
    via Aarunascut
  • 03
    done and how pleased they were with my presentation. Two weeks later it was announced that a person was chosen for the job that had less time with the company and was much
    via Aarunascut
  • 04
    less qualified than I was. I was called to HR to have a final interview (after the appointment of the other person) for an explanation of why they didn't hire me. Mind you, I am 70 years old and the person they chose is 30. It's not like I
    via Aarunascut
  • 05
    didn't know the reason I wasn't chosen. The disrespect came when I was told that they wanted me to sit in to watch this person doing his job and they would hire me for the same position later on if more openings came up.
    via Aarunascut
  • 06
    two smiling men discussing documents at an office desk
    via Md Ishak Rahman

    A depiction of how happy the company expects the 70-year-old employee to be training someone else for his dream job

  • 07
    Naturally, I declined the offer and explained to HR that it was fine and it is their loss. I continue to do my job there but now searching outside the company for advancement.
    via Aarunascut

  • What struck me most was that they intended the man to help train his young competitor; of course, that proposal wasn’t going to land well. Some companies make good decisions by thinking only about finances and forget that the ones promoting their financial well-being are human beings; if the humans stop feeling well, trust me, finances are going to be just as affected. I understand that from the company’s point of view, it was a better decision in the long run to hire a young employee for the position, because they wouldn’t have to deal with an upcoming retirement and another opening for the job further down the road. All in all, they could have come up with a different strategy to keep both of their employees happy and avoid forcing one of them to sit and train the other for their long-desired position. Most directive decisions are made in a stressful scenario where it’s very difficult to stop and think what would be best for everyone, or turn an entire department upside down and start anew to keep everyone happy. I understand sometimes you have to break a few eggs, but are we OK with receiving the same treatment when we get older?.

  • 08
    an old person holding a baby's hand
    via Rod Long

    A photo representing the relationship between the youngest and the elderly

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workplace-stories toxic-workplace work workplace toxic-work-environment
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