You know what really frosts my flakes?
Age discrimination is alive and well in 2026.
As America pauses to celebrate workers and everything they contribute, perhaps we should talk about a group of people who often have a surprisingly difficult time getting hired today.
Those are people over 50.
There was a time when you could walk into a business, ask if they were hiring, fill out an application and maybe even talk to the manager.
Today? Forget it.
You MUST apply online. You MUST upload a resume. You MUST create an account. You MUST answer a bunch of questions. And, sometimes, you MUST write a cover letter explaining why your lifelong dream has always been to stock shelves at a grocery store three nights a week.
Then, within seconds, you get the cheerful automated response: “Thank you for your interest!”
That’s usually corporate code for, “Don’t call us. We’ll call you. But, we’re probably not calling.”
Before a human being ever sees your application, software may scan it looking for keywords, recent experience and qualifications somebody decided were important.
And that’s where seasoned citizens can get clobbered.
Maybe you worked in food service 30 years ago. Maybe you spent decades dealing with customers. Maybe you’ve managed employees, handled money, solved problems and showed up for work every day.
But, apparently none of that matters if you haven’t washed a restaurant dish since 1997.
Sorry, Grandpa. Your dishwashing skills have expired.
Apparently, selling movie tickets, stocking shelves, taking orders and greeting customers now require only recent experience.
Here’s a little tip for employers complaining that they can’t find good help:
Take another look at the people over 50.
Baby boomers and older Gen Xers have spent decades adapting to changes in the workplace.
We didn’t grow up with smartphones and apps, but we learned computers, email, websites, point-of-sale systems and whatever new technology employers put in front of us.
Some people seem to forget that our generations helped develop, refine and implement much of the technology everybody uses today.
And here’s something else many older workers bring to the table. They know how to show up.
They know how to look customers in the eye, carry on a conversation, answer questions and solve problems.
They understand that when somebody is paying you to work, you’re supposed to be working.
So, here’s my suggestion for employers who keep complaining they can’t find dependable workers.
Every once in a while, turn off the computer and actually meet the applicants.
Can the person communicate? Does he or she have a good attitude? Does the applicant have a history of showing up, working hard and treating people well?
If the answer is yes, maybe you’ve found a pretty good employee, even if the robot couldn’t find the right keywords.
Maybe the problem isn’t that employers can’t find good help. Maybe their computers keep rejecting it.