If I were this manager's boss..
on
Ageism in IT?
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· Score: 1
I'd be taking him aside and reading him the riot act. He's a dangerous manager.
Aside from the fact his "younger/better" is a gross stereotype, he's also setting himself and my company up for the probability of an expensive age discrimination lawsuit. Discriminating in hiring or advancement on the basis of age is a violation of federal law (and quite a few state laws). Just think what happens when some qualified but older applicant who got passed over gets to a lawyer and deposes the supervisor's coworkers about his statements.
The fact is this whole dude's career is based on being a historian, not a physician. The following is his own bio for one of his books.
"Edward Shorter received his Ph.D. in History from Harvard in 1968. Since 1967, he has taught history at the University of Toronto, where he is now Hannah Chair in the History of Medicine."
Having the joy of suffering from both (very mild carpal, severe flare-ups of tendonitis) for many years now, here's what little I know.
1.) Tendonitis tends to hit the forearm, wrist, thumb and pinky (for me at least) with pain and numbness. When it's really bad it goes up all the way into my shoulder. Not fun. Carpal affects the middle fingers (and thumb). If it's to the outside of the hand, it's probably tendonitis. Inner fingers -- Carpal. Other things that apply to both are weakness of grip and numbness.
2.) There is no quick, easy, or sure cure. I've not had surgery and have managed to avoid it for now. Things that do help: Find a good massage therapist, usually associated with a chiropractor. If you're lucky, your insurance (if any) will cover visits. If so, take advantage of it. Have them do deep massage work on your arms.
Vitamin E helps some people and reduces flare-ups. Some people say shark cartilage tablets are useful. I've never tried those.
Change your workspace. Get a GOOD chair, fully adjustable, back support, etc. Sit with your feet on the floor (mostly), get your arms and wrists in a natural straight line. Try to get your monitor about eye level. DON'T use those gel tube or padded wrist rests. They encourage you to put pressure on the spot you're trying to relieve pressure from. (Even soft pressure is pressure.)
Get an ergonomic keyboard. The MS one is good, but the best I've used (still use at home) is a Floating Arms keyboard and chair set-up -- splits the keyboard and mounts it on the arms of the chair.
Get up. Get out of your chair a few minutes every hour and stretch. As you sit in your chair, reach to the side and grip the bottom. Stretch to the other side. (Pull and stretch those the tendons in your arm.)
Get a mouse and a trackball. Switch between them every now and then. Both will eventually cause pain, so by switching you're giving relief to one area or another.
Once you got it, it ain't going to go away unless you quit typing. Get used to it.
Slashdot Mirror
I'd be taking him aside and reading him the riot act. He's a dangerous manager.
Aside from the fact his "younger/better" is a gross stereotype, he's also setting himself and my company up for the probability of an expensive age discrimination lawsuit. Discriminating in hiring or advancement on the basis of age is a violation of federal law (and quite a few state laws). Just think what happens when some qualified but older applicant who got passed over gets to a lawyer and deposes the supervisor's coworkers about his statements.
More likely literature types that get taught in schools...
Italo Calvino
Joyce Carol Oates
John Updike
Primo Levi
Borges
etc.
The fact is this whole dude's career is based on being a historian, not a physician. The following is his own bio for one of his books.
"Edward Shorter received his Ph.D. in History from Harvard in 1968. Since 1967, he has taught history at the University of Toronto, where he is now Hannah Chair in the History of Medicine."
You assume a newspaper is the voice of authority?
Having the joy of suffering from both (very mild carpal, severe flare-ups of tendonitis) for many years now, here's what little I know.
1.) Tendonitis tends to hit the forearm, wrist, thumb and pinky (for me at least) with pain and numbness. When it's really bad it goes up all the way into my shoulder. Not fun. Carpal affects the middle fingers (and thumb). If it's to the outside of the hand, it's probably tendonitis. Inner fingers -- Carpal. Other things that apply to both are weakness of grip and numbness.
2.) There is no quick, easy, or sure cure. I've not had surgery and have managed to avoid it for now. Things that do help:
Find a good massage therapist, usually associated with a chiropractor. If you're lucky, your insurance (if any) will cover visits. If so, take advantage of it. Have them do deep massage work on your arms.
Vitamin E helps some people and reduces flare-ups. Some people say shark cartilage tablets are useful. I've never tried those.
Change your workspace. Get a GOOD chair, fully adjustable, back support, etc. Sit with your feet on the floor (mostly), get your arms and wrists in a natural straight line. Try to get your monitor about eye level. DON'T use those gel tube or padded wrist rests. They encourage you to put pressure on the spot you're trying to relieve pressure from. (Even soft pressure is pressure.)
Get an ergonomic keyboard. The MS one is good, but the best I've used (still use at home) is a Floating Arms keyboard and chair set-up -- splits the keyboard and mounts it on the arms of the chair.
Get up. Get out of your chair a few minutes every hour and stretch. As you sit in your chair, reach to the side and grip the bottom. Stretch to the other side. (Pull and stretch those the tendons in your arm.)
Get a mouse and a trackball. Switch between them every now and then. Both will eventually cause pain, so by switching you're giving relief to one area or another.
Once you got it, it ain't going to go away unless you quit typing. Get used to it.
D. Cook