RetirementJobs.com Member Selected to Appear at United States Senate 'Older Worker' Hearing

Sheila Whitelaw to Provide First Hand Account of Situation Faced by Mature Job Seekers


WASHINGTON, D.C., May 10, 2012— RetirementJobs.com, Inc., the No. 1 career website for job-seekers age 50 and older, today announced that one of its members, Sheila Whitelaw of Philadelphia, has been selected to appear live before a panel of U.S. senators investigating experiences faced by workers over age 50.  The hearing, to be held by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, takes place on Tuesday, May 15th at 2:30pm and will be available live online.

“I don’t really expect to retire,” says Whitelaw.  “I plan to keep working as long as I am physically able to, and I am blessed to be in good health.  Contrary to what many employers think, age is just a number.  My age does not define my ability, negate my work experience, or reduce my dedication to the job at hand.”

“It is gratifying that the Committee is listening to one of the individuals in our membership, which is now one million strong,” said Tim Driver, founder of RetirementJobs.com, a career site and advocacy organization for people age 50+. “Sheila is a highly qualified, articulate candidate.  She is one of the many who signed our petition in support of the Committee’s efforts to help mature workers find jobs.  She is thrilled to be heard, after going for a long time finding that the door to the Human Resources department apparently closed because of her age.”

New government research is expected to be released in conjunction with the hearing. An analysis by the National Employment Law Project (NELP) released in March showed that the number of 50-plus unemployed for six months or longer jumped from 325,000 to 1.8 million between 2007 and 2011.  Last year, 42 percent of older jobless workers were unemployed for more than a year.

About RetirementJobs.com®
As the #1 career website for job-seekers aged 50+, RetirementJobs.com provides opportunity, inspiration, community and counsel to people over 50 seeking work to match their lifestyle. The company’s powerful, easy-to use job board lists thousands of openings for experienced employees seeking work with a Certified Age Friendly Employer™. Founded in 2005, RetirementJobs.com is a strong public advocate and a catalyst to help employers retain, hire, and benefit from an experienced workforce. Its website also offers vital information and inspiration for older workers, including advice, news, success stories, and podcasts. For more information, visit www.retirementjobs.com.

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