Comments on: Is age discrimination legal when employing people — Naspers think it is.

By: Marius

Marius — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 21:28:41 +0000

Louis, we are not talking about engineers / developers here but Programme Manager. Even I do employ youngsters when it comes to this roles, but when it comes to control, communication, management and keeping customer’s and business expectations in check then one needs maturity and that only comes with experience and experience only comes with being around the block a couple of times.

It is like Herman said above, there needs to be a balance between young and old. Each has its role to play and a lot of mature companies are recognizing it these days. Naspers strength lies in their maturity and their use of mature and experienced resources so I am surprised to see their attitude on this.

By: Louis

Louis — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 19:26:06 +0000

Marius,

You can do what you want, but you’re not a digital native. I employ a lot of engineers / developers and have taken chances on the older ballies (of which I’m one too), but will never do it again. I’d say 35 is my cut-off as well, preferably younger. I’ve seen the results in my business and that’s what counts. Naspers is a strong company so I guess they’ve learnt the hard way too.

L++

By: Herman

Herman — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 16:22:20 +0000

Howler I recon your comments allready explain why it is so necessary to not have only ‘youngsters’ or ‘old timers’ but
a good mix of both.

We can talk a lot about how experience brings a little more order and how youth can deliver so much with energy.

Interesting that the most effective IT shops mix them. Maybe research that a little. Not just google I mean research. There is a difference.

By: Marius

Marius — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:59:58 +0000

Howler – Dude , you wrong on so many fronts

Employess may not discriminate as they pleases or where it make sense .. that is why there is a constitution.

Mxit, Pacebook, Twitter or whatever channel, how is this relevant in meeting life partners, surely not in the media world. Media channels is there to distribute information, create interactivity and build a community around your product whether that be media, retail, banking or whatever.

Do not confuse age with energy and/or passion. I can consume just as much as you and probably more but it is not the number but to be able to distinguish between what is relevant and what is just plain junk. So yes I am have lived it for a long time and am living it every day.

Just for interest, I have been in the digital media and social media arena way longer than you probably and here I am also talking where traditional media progressed to digital media. Traditional media/communication is not part of my daily life and has not been for a every long time.

So prove to me how age profile can be relevant to this position and do not base it on your assumptions about older people. I am very open to listen to your arguments. Would be interested to see how you profile somebody like me (the older generation)

50 year old that has been around the media block.

By: Howler

Howler — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:09:17 +0000

Dude – you may understand it but it’s unlikely that you’ve lived it – you didn’t/won’t meet your past/future life partner on Mxit, you can’t consume five different media simulaneously and you actually value traditional communication.

Age profile is as relevant to the position as good looks might be for a modelling agency. Employers can discriminate where it makes sense to do so.