A few years ago, I wrote an article for the Irish Times about ageism in the tech industry. I was based in Silicon Valley at the time. Little did I imagine I would be on the receiving end of ageism myself a few years later. Ageism is rampant in tech, but also in the UX design side of the “industry”. Oh yes, the great empathizers, the preachers about walking in others’ shoes, about universal design, they’re at it too.

Ireland is as bad, if not worse, than anywhere for this insidious discrimination and micro-aggression.

Ageism in tech. Rampant in Ireland (Shutterstock)

But nobody speaks out about it.

Why is this happening? Many reasons. Fear. Jealousy. Infantile points of contact in talent management without an adult in the room. Transactional recruitment agencies. Millennial hiring managers privilege and prejudice. But mostly because they can get away with it.

What are these discriminatory UX design types going to do when they pass the age of 45, or 50? Pull up the ladder? Trust me, betting against your future self is a hostage to your own misfortune.

All that stuff you read about ageism being illegal and really it’s the hiring organizations who are missing out is complete bullshit.

They’re all at it: LinkedIn, Amazon, Google, eBay, HubSpot, Facebook…startups of all sorts. I don’t even get the courtesy of a reply. But, 5–10 years ago?

Over 50? Then try adding being Black, disabled, a Traveller, a trans person, a woman into the mix.

Fight it when you see it. Sue where you can. Don’t do it yourself.

The great resignation, my effing ass.