Earlier quoted context omitted.
To be fair: German employee protection is so strong, it's almost impossible for anyone to get fired from any company bigger than 10 employees for reasons other than committing crimes or felonies, as long as the company cannot prove that they have to let people go due to bad overall business. Even then, as an employer, you cannot simply fire the underachievers, but you have to negotiate with the works council to be ab…
Which is exactly how it should be, no? Or do you favour kickin someone in their 50s out who has worked at the place for the last 20 years and will have a super hard time to find another job no matter how hard they try, so that their only option is being unemployed and to rely on social security?
First, employers should be able to keep employees based on merit, not on arbitrary measures neither the employer nor the employee can change (sex, gender, age,...). If a company is already in trouble, having to let go talent will hurt them even more. It’s so hard (and expensive) to let people go in Germany that it’s almost always the last cry for help to get more subsidies or shut down for good. The 50 year old won’t any guarantee to keep that job for much longer like that...
Secondl, the reasoning holds also for an overperforming 50 year old employee who’s recently been hired vs. a 35 year old that started vocational training 19 years prior - no chance for the newbie to stay. What’s your opinion on this?
Third, the job market for people with experience is very good in Germany. There are indefinite ways to learn new skills and redevelop your career, mostly sponsored by the taxpayer. At age 50, a lot of people start their second or third career. I don’t trust the narrative that old People are doomed if they lose their job compared to a 28 year old with two kids and a husband that’s doing his PhD on a shitty part time salary.