Have you noticed the trend of layoffs targeting employees in their 40s? Bombay Shaving Company CEO Shantanu Deshpande spoke on the “global phenomenon" where companies are laying off professionals in their 40s who often earn high salaries and have financial commitments.

Deshpande referred to the 40s-50s as the “golden salary period" but with a substantial commitment financially towards children’s education, parents’ medical care and house’s EMI.
 

If you lose your job in your 40s, he said it is a massive “destabliser" financially and emotionally for you and your family.

“Losing your job in your 40s is a financial and emotional disaster. At this age, you have the most responsibilities—EMIs, kids' education, aging parents. The question is, how to prepare for the storm ahead?" Deshpande wrote in an Instagram post.

Reacting to the CEO’s post, Instagram user Shweta Gadia shared how she lost her job at 42 and has been struggling to find a good job despite having a great profile.
“It’s true. I am 42, and I lost my job last year. I have been struggling to find a good job despite having a great profile. I know many of my friends are going through the same problem. We often discuss how the market has made us retire so early, when this is the time to make money. It’s very sad and has been stressful for most of us," she wrote.

Another user, Vishal Joshi, said corporates believe that instead of keeping one manager at Rs 1 lakh per month salary, they can hire four employees at Rs 25,000 each to boost productivity in terms of hours worked.

“The higher the position, the higher the pay—but corporates are now focusing more on hours clocked rather than the experience and problem-solving abilities that senior professionals bring. They’re trying to trap people in their 40s by instilling a fear of job loss. As a result, many don’t ask for a raise and end up working longer hours under immense pressure just to keep their jobs," he wrote.