Baby Boomers Face Old Problems in the Workplace

Perhaps you've seen this episode from classic TV? Darrin Steven's job is on the line. If he can't land that big, new account, well, his goose is cooked. That is the plot line of almost every Bewitched episode in that long-running TV series. Invariably, his young wife Samantha would find some magic solution that would make everything all right. We never were too worried about Darrin, we knew he would not lose his job, but if he did, we knew he would find another one. He was young and talented, after all.

Robert Petrie, as a second example, may have only been as secure as the ratings of the Alan Brady show. The fictional show featured on the old Dick Van Dyke Show. Petrie's problem was a tyrannical boos, show deadlines, and incessant need to find humorous situations in his life that he could adapt for that week's show. Somehow, he was always successful, even without a magical wife.

Increasing age becomes a turning point. The two classic shows were comedies. No matter how loud the boss yelled, no matter how bleak the potential outcome, things never got too dark. Perhaps it was due more to the age of the leading actors than to the actual circumstances surrounding them.

Let's take a look at the American classic; Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman is in the same boat as Darrin and Rob, but he has thirty years on them. His job is on the line, and he can't seem to land any new clients. The same basic plot line, but now we have a great tragedy. The audience realizes, as well as Willy does, that the options are few past a certain age.

You want drama? Take Robert Petrie, make him 62 years old, no pension, and let him find funny jokes for the young Alan Brady. You can almost see the sweat begin to bead on Petrie's forehead.

There is a thin line between comedy and tragedy, and sometimes that line is colored grey.