CONFIDENTIAL FILE

Wall of Prejudice: Job Age Barrier

The events which led up to Toni Hyatt’s becoming an outcast don’t make much sense.

But neither does the fact that today she’s an untouchable in our society.

That’s why some background information on her is essential before we get into her present predicament.

Toni Hyatt worked from 1933 to 1945 as a career girl. During that 12-year period, she was employed steadily, with one firm eight years, another four years, working mostly as an executive secretary.

Then she married. But, a few years ago, she divorced her husband. It was a friendly parting.

At that time, her husband volunteered alimony. But Mrs. Hyatt declined it, as well as support for their only child, Donald, who is now 10.

"I’ll be able to take care of myself," she told her ex-spouse.

Then she set out to look for work. She was after a job with a future.

Today, she’s still looking for that job.

Yesterday, she told me about her search.

"I’ve managed to get some temporary jobs, interim work," she said. The last of those ended 10 weeks ago.

She has glowing letters of recommendation. She has taken them all over town. But their not worth the paper they’re written on.

Toni Hyatt is over 40. And that, according to the social insanity which has spread to the personnel departments of our major businesses today, is about as great as a sin as any job applicant can commit.

That Mrs. Hyatt is an attractive woman in perfect health, that’s she’s educated and intelligent, that she possesses a keen sense of humor and a whip-quick mind, that she can take responsibility, as well as shorthand at 160 words per minute — these attributes don’t count.

She’s now a member of the unwanted over-40 class.

She’s been through the cruel initiation, like thousands of women before her.

She’s listed with half a dozen employment agencies. She answers all the ads. She’s been out for dozens of personal interviews.

These are just samples of the blind, destructive prejudice which she has encountered:

An industrial firm in Downey: After her interview and tests, she waited 2 1/2 hours to be told by a young personnel clerk, "You passed all the tests, but you’re way over our age limit."

An aircraft firm in El Segundo: First in line to answer a fresh newspaper ad for secretaries, she was informed, after giving her age, "Madam, I’m sorry. These positions have been filled."

A metal company in Torrance: "Frankly," she was told, "you’re much older than the other girls we have working here. You’d feel out of place."

An aircraft firm in Hawthorne: "Didn’t I tell you not to send me an old woman?"

Mrs. Hyatt has moved to a lower-rent area now. Her ex-husband is helping to pay the bills. A few weeks ago, for the first time in her life, she swallowed her pride and applied for unemployment benefits.

The next step?

When you’re condemned to oblivion, that’s usually where you end up.