"First Time I Feel the Hit" – Older Worker Laid Off, Replaced by 21-Year-Old with No Experience

A Singaporean worker recently took to Reddit to share his experience of being let go from his job, believing the real reason was his high salary and age. In his post, he expressed suspicions about the company’s motives, especially after seeing the job listing for his replacement—who turned out to be a 21-year-old with no experience.

The Redditor, raspberry7629, explained that his company had been cost-cutting and, despite management's reassurances that his dismissal wasn’t salary-related, he noticed the job ad showed a much lower pay range. This made him suspect that the company was simply trying to replace older, higher-paid workers with younger, cheaper hires.

The post resonated with many others who have faced similar situations. He noted that this was his “first time feeling the hit” of age discrimination in the workforce, a sentiment that many older workers in Singapore seem to share.

His post quickly gained traction, with many Redditors sharing their thoughts on ageism and job security in Singapore.

"Been jobless since May 2024… really guessing that being jobless for so long could be due to high pay expectations and ageism." – Just_Guy01

Some pointed out that being replaced by someone with no experience suggests the role itself may not have been seen as valuable by the company.

"If you can be replaced by a 21-year-old, it is likely your role means little to the company." – SmoothAsSilk_23

Others argued that cost-cutting often results in experienced employees being replaced by fresh hires, who are easier to manage and command lower salaries.

"Younger can groom more to try to entice them to stay. But one thing they usually forget is, younger generations are more prone to job hopping compared to the loyalty the older gens have." – JExecutor97

There were also those who pointed out that companies justify layoffs by claiming workers have become "obsolete," even if they are still capable.

"If your job can be taken over by a fresh grad, something is seriously wrong here. Means you have stagnated all these years." – Sudden-Potential-710

Some users debated the effectiveness of government initiatives like SkillsFuture and anti-ageism policies, with skepticism about whether they truly help older workers secure jobs.

"Isn’t the government promoting fair consideration, anti-ageism, and upskilling?" – jeffrey745

"Promoting does not equal behavioral change. Hiring managers will always prefer a younger person over someone who has been retrenched and is reskilling." – Independent_Line6673

The discussion highlights a growing concern among Singapore’s workforce—age and salary often become liabilities rather than assets. While companies seek to cut costs, experienced workers may find themselves struggling to stay competitive. Whether upskilling or job-switching is the answer remains up for debate, but one thing is clear: many Singaporeans are feeling the hit.