Sweden: when are we too old for the job?
Kenneth Bengtsson, chairman of the board of Swedish railway company SJ, fired CEO Monica Lingegård, who turns 63 this year, citing her age as the reason for the decision. The national press condemns the move as the result of a widespread, misguided attitude in Swedish society.
Discriminatory and wasteful
Expressen is appalled:
“Sweden is a brutally age-discriminatory country. Swedish employers are the worst in the Nordic countries when it comes to employing people over 55. ... At a time when life expectancy is rapidly increasing, this is an unsustainable waste of human capital. Perhaps we should abolish the Swedish ID card numbers and introduce ID numbers that don't reveal age. And forbid employers from asking about it.”
Women doubly disadvantaged
The fact that the person doing the firing is older than the one being fired speaks volumes, says Aftonbladet:
“It comes as no surprise that Monica (63) was the target, rather than Kenneth (65). Nor is it surprising that Monica is being replaced by Jonas, who is four and a half years younger than her. ... Many women over 50 report how difficult it is to find a new job. For many over 60, it's completely hopeless. It doesn't matter what qualifications you have or what you can offer an employer - you simply don't get the chance. Sweden has a sick view of old age in which women in particular are written off too early.”