$$$$ I’ve been a good employee for 30 years moving up and getting increases. They can get someone younger at a low starting wage and start over.

Sadly, I do. If one listens to age stereotypes, we’re unmotivated, marking time until retirement, can’t handle computers, and can’t learn anything new. Never mind experience; a diploma is what counts and a fresh diploma beats an old one. That’s not right and not fair. But it’s common for humans to make judgements about demographic groups based more on stereotypes than on what people actually do. There’s one more issue that is often a real problem: cost. The employer may have been overgenerous with raises in the past and is now regretting how the elder’s salary compares with a starting salary. Companies may also fear a rise in health insurance costs if the workforce skews older. There are ways to avoid those issues but it’s easier just to push older workers out, and companies know that they can get away with it.

However, I’m surprised Suzanne doesn’t suggest what to me is an obvious next step: learn to do the new job. Read some books, take a couple classes, seek instruction from the incumbent before they leave. Unless the new responsibilities require an advanced degree or profession pal licensing, what’s holding you back from learning the thing? It seems unlikely they’d have you face a complicated client if they felt you’d fail. So pull on your boots and get to learning!