Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-08-21
PAY SEENFACTOR
IN 'F0RTYFOB|A'
JobIess Man Over 40 Held
Partly to Blame for Ills
by Salary Demands.
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
EVANSTON, ILL.,. Aug. 20.-The man
Of 40 or beyond who is out of work
helps create his own job problem by
expecting salary equivalent to that
received on his previous position. in
the opinion of DR.. Samuel N. Stevens.
dean Of the University College Of
Northwestern University.
DR.. Stevens, who heads the uni
versity's adult education division, made
his observation today in commenting
on q recommendation to the Depart
ment of Labor by DIR. Doris Sokolon,
New York, for an educational CAM
paign to fight "fortyfobia."
DR.. Sokolof described "fortyfobia"
as a mental ailment Of employers who
refuse to hire men over 40 and rs q
physical condition of employees brought
on by poor living and working con-
ditions, improper eating, lack of re-
taxation and overwork.
Problem Is Economic.
'"The economically displaced man of
49," DR.. Stevens said, helps to ere
ate his own job problem by his ex-
pectation of salary with his new
employer equivalent to what he had
been making previously.
THE problem is economic, not psy-
Geological. An employer can hire 4
man of 80 for half what the 40-year-
old expects. In a large corporation
This difference causes an increase In
social security costs which offsets
the increased knowledge Of the man
Of 40. Further, the man Of 10, even
il he accepts a small starting salary,
is not content unless the increase in
his wages is rapid"
This desire Ito telescope his previous
economic development" is in direct
contrast to the employers desire to
bring men up slowly through the
ranks" DR.. Stevens declared.
DR.. Stevens, who has had 4 wide
experience in placing competent men
over 40. added that he had never met
an employer who does not recognize
the fact that men of 40 are potentially
better buys in terms of immediate
productiveness."
Older Men Work Out Better.
From DR.. Robert N. McMurry, ex-
ecutive secretary Of the Chicago Psy-
Geological Corp. came the comment
that the most striking discovery of 4
statistical analysis of the relation
between age and success in q large
national sales organization was that
the man of IS or younger did not work
out well on the job.
1.-THE optimal age for success" he
said, LAY between IS and IS At the
time Of hiring. We have tended to
confirm this finding on subsequent
studies. The older man, for many
types Of work. including selling, is q
better prospect In terms Of stability,
productive ability, and attitude to-
ward the Job and employer than the
younger man.
Once you begin to make some com.
PARSONS, it becomes rather clear why
this should be true.
Granted that some young men have
more pep and drive. this Is Offset by
number Of factors. To begin with,
many are not very stable. They don't
know what they want to do. They
are still in the trial and error stage
OF job selection. If there Il some
thing that they do not like about their
current job. they have no hesitancy
about throwing it up and trying their
luck somewhere else. Often their
judgments are extremely adolescent.
They are constantly trying to ind the
pot Of gold at the foot Of the rain
bow job with lots Of prestige. no
great effort required, and q large
salary. Furthermore. many young
men have no responsibilities to hold
them In check"