Portland’s otherwise wonderful restaurant scene suffers from prejudice.

One of my friends is a professional food server. Former co-workers, managers and customers testify that she’s great at her job, but her boss axed her, saying:

“You are a pro and a hard worker. But I have to let you go – you’re just not the right fit.”

Her crime? She’s in her 40s in a restaurant scene demanding waitstaff as tender as its locally sourced food.

She has weathered cancer, raised a family and traveled the country; she is a tough, experienced survivor. How did life experience become a hindrance, not an asset?

My food service days 40 years in the past, I wrote off ignored applications as due to my lack of recent experience, not my lengthy life experience. Hearing from other older folks, I looked at my servers and suspected ageism at work.

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Ironically, Portland’s foodie revolution is paid for by we who were listening when the Beatles released “Revolution.” They’ll take our money but not give us a job. And we are docile enough to put up with it.

In a state with the highest median age in the country and a weak economy, Portland’s emergence as a foodie mecca created a labor shortage. Our governor suggests putting children to work. A better idea: Let kids be kids. We old folks are eager and able. Hire us.

Let’s raise awareness:

Food writers: Does the staff look like the customers? Tell us. The treatment of human beings is at least as important as how the chickens are treated.

Customers: Check restaurants’ human rights records. Don’t go to places that practice ageism.

Restaurant owners and managers: Hire the people like my friend.

Pete Lyons
Westbrook

 


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