An ending - and a new beginning

Friday October 4 2024, at close of business I became officially retired.

I have been on paid long service leave since February - gotta love the leave entitlements that Australian Unions have won for the workers over the years - but I’ve stayed in touch with some of the people I worked with.

Today I logged into my work email to clear it out and was reminded why I chose to retire and of the things I don’t miss. The bullying, the denigration, the invisibility, the exclusion, the pettiness I endured over the last 3 years in particular hit me all over again.

The frustration of fighting back to try and fix problems, the many brick walls I hit, the lack of interest in addressing issues from anyone in a position who could make a difference made me feel like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders - and played havoc with my mental health over a far longer time than I realised.

But there were also some genuine friendships, good conversations, generous people. I wouldn’t have lasted as long as I did without the few good people I worked with.

I know I’m not the only older person who has been treated poorly as they age in the workforce. I’ve seen it happen to others and it makes my blood boil.

As an employee you have to bite your tongue in public and present the corporate front.

As a retiree, I don’t have that constraint.

Change has to come. Poor mental health should not be an accepted and ignored part of becoming an older worker. Bullying behaviour should not be overlooked or (in some cases) condoned.

The retired population is huge and should be loudly advocating for real change. We’ve been there, we’ve survived the problems, we have ideas on what needs to be addressed - and how.

But first we have to find a way to harness that voice and get the experienced activists in our population on side.