Definition of Social Distancing (Medical) – “Protecting the public health by separating communities so that people who are stricken with a contagious illness cannot pass it on to others who are not. It includes, e.g., having children stay out of school when they are ill; closing workplaces, postponing meetings, and avoiding large social or religious gatherings or sporting events. It is designed to stop the spread of epidemics or pandemics but is not as strict a limitation on social interaction as quarantine.” — Source: The Medical Dictionary – thefreedictionary.com
Definition of Social Distancing (Psychological) – “…describes the distance between different groups in society, such as social class, race/ethnicity, gender or sexuality. Different groups mix less than members of the same group. It is the measure of nearness or intimacy that an individual or group feels towards another individual or group in a social network or the level of trust one group has for another and the extent of perceived likeness of beliefs.” — Source: Wikipedia
This is the fifth in a series of Dispatches from the Hideout which I began writing three years ago. This is the first installment of my COVID-19 dispatches written during the pandemic.
First, let me go on record, I do not have coronavirus (COVID-19). I have, however, retreated to the hideout, my 645 square foot apartment home, this time not by choice as in the past, instead due to social distancing. Let me explain…
Writing desk at the hideout
As many of my readers, friends, and family are already aware, I was recently laid-off from my 12-year job. My position was eliminated due to a company reorganization. Because of my age, many of my work colleagues assumed I was retiring.
My manager sent an announcement to our leadership team and explained the decision, indicating it was not performance related and I would not be replaced. Instead, my duties would be distributed to other managers. That information was not shared with most of my workmates.
On my last day of work, I invited my 100 coworkers to stop by my office for cake and a goodbye. When asked if I was retiring, and what was I planning on doing next, the answer was simple. I would be looking for another part-time or full-time job. I did not plan well financially for my future, and would need to continue working to remain independent. I live alone and for most of my life I’ve been my sole supporter.
Packing up personal items
Forced Retirement: A Different Kind of Social Distancing
From an article entitled, Forced Retirement by Julia Kagan. “Forced retirement is the involuntary job termination of an older worker. An older worker may lose a job as part of a wider company downsizing or may retire early due to poor health or disability.”
“Mandatory retirement at a set age was abolished in 1986 by an amendment to the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act. There are some exceptions for occupations that have high physical fitness requirements, such as military personnel and airline pilots.”
“A 2018 study by ProPublica and the Urban Institute concludes that 56% of workers over age 50 have been pushed out of jobs before they would willingly have retired. Only one in 10 of them ever gets another job that pays as well.”
We are in a demographic shift, the ‘graying of America.’ From an article in the NYT in 2014, The Graying of America Is Speeding, Report Says. “The number of Americans 65 and older is expected to nearly double by the middle of the century when they will make up more than a fifth of the nation’s population, according to a Census Bureau report.”
Illustration: Marie Monteiro, NYT
What I found interesting about my termination, among many other observations and feelings, was how my coworkers responded. For the most part, I was well-liked and respected. I had worked as a Business Development Center Manager and hired and led a team, many of whom remained and have progressed in the company accepting promotions.
In the past three years I worked part-time in an administrative and sales support position, among other duties onboarding new employees as a system administrator of our web-based tools and I functioned as an internet sales manager, ensuring sales staff were responding to our prospects and sales leads in a timely fashion. I’d generate and distribute monthly internet sales reports to senior managers.
People were surprised when they learned I wasn’t retiring. I stayed positive in my responses, not wanting to burn any bridges, or create any drama or ill will. Yet, in the end, I felt like I was being socially distanced because of my age. The recent Ok, Boomer meme reinforced the trend of social distancing and discounting solely due to age. Oh, My!
Some of my colleagues distanced themselves in my final days. Without direct explanation for their behavior, I could only assume or project that they were fearful that it could happen to them too, since I had a positive reputation in the workplace, or they didn’t have the words to respond, or goodbyes were difficult. It was almost as if my termination was ‘catchy’ like a virus. Some may have avoided me at the end because of ‘survivor’s guilt.’ They may have been asking themselves, “Will I be next?”
What Does This All Mean?
First, I’m optimistic about my current job search. I’ve reframed my termination as an opportunity disguised as bad news. Besides a broad-based resume of professional experience in business development, sales and account management, public relations and marketing communications, I have an extensive avocational resume as a lifelong volunteer and community activist. I hope I can combine my passions and professional background and find a job that feeds my spirit as well as fulfills my financial requirements. Mixing metaphors, I may be ‘long in the tooth,’ yet I’m ‘young at heart.’
I am socially distanced now. My temporary unemployment means I’m homebound, conducting my job search online and hopefully venturing out for interviews. I’m curious on how I will be perceived as an older worker. Will I be assessed for my experience, or be judged on social perceptions or age-related bias about energy and/or ability to learn new skills?
As the definitions from the introduction of this essay indicate, there are many kinds of social distancing, first, medical — separating people to protect others from contagions — and psychological — affective, normative, and interactive distancing.
As a baby boomer and reminiscence writer reflecting on my lived experience, an observer of our culture, and activist-essayist commenting on the partisan political environment in which we currently live, I find there’s ample potential for social distancing in my personal life based on age, politics, sexual orientation, class, race, ethnic background, religious beliefs, and the list goes on. Hopefully, I will dodge the coronavirus infection, yet the effects of the pandemic will impact all our lives. I’m already feeling isolated.
The COVID-19 virus as seen by an electron microscope.
Tomorrow is Monday, the start of the work week. I won’t catch coronavirus at work since I currently don’t have a job. Instead, I’m socially distanced and will apply for unemployment compensation and continue my job search from my hideout, the 645 square foot apartment I consider my home and base camp. Stay tuned for more Dispatches from the Hideout.
To Read the Entire Dispatches from the Hideout Series
Dispatch from the Hideout: Hip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah!
Related Reading from Mixed Metaphors, Oh My!
70 Is NOT the New 60, It’s 70!
Pick a Metaphor: Life-Planning
Additional Reading on Social Distancing
Definition and Examples of Social Distance in Psychology
The Feeling You Get After Surviving Layoffs Has a Name
Best of luck on your job search! Lewis