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It happened to me. I was a level 5 engineer for a fortune 500 company with 35 years experience. Level 6 is senior scientist and there are only a few of those so I had earned a high level. Just before turning 59 I was called into a mid year review, which I never had before, and was told my review was horrible. The things being reviewed were being changed and my job performance was the only thing that was good. The things prioritized were ethics compliance training, on time, but not as early as some other. No brown bag training lunches, But I worked at an Air Force Base 30 minutes each way from the building they were suggesting I do this even though they never suggested it before this meeting. The other things were even less important. It did not matter that I was fixing problems on schedule and keeping the Air Force happy.

I saw the handwriting on the wall. Coming up on an important test of a system I quit/retired and told them why. The HR department got what they wanted. My program was shocked that they did this to me. I have not talked to them to see if the program succeeded or failed. The person assigned to replace me was interviewing with other companies when I left.

I’m not saying it doesn’t happen - my grandfather had a stroke at 57 and was able to get his company’s pension but 3 years later they whacked his healthy co-workers who turned 60.

I disagree with it entirely - BUT - I could understand setting an age limit for something like flight attendants where safety is a concern.

"I saw the handwriting on the wall. ”

My brother worked for a private contractor at the local army base repairing helicopters, which his work was excellent. However the slugs that the company refused to fire but just shifted from department to department was a constant headache. One employee was constantly late and later on didn't show up at all. He always had a ready excuse, however lame.

Frankly my brother prefered he didn't show up as he and others on his crew were always reworking the job he was assigned. Finally my brother quit, mid contract when the company was blaming HIM for the slow production.

He too, was reading the tea leaves and last he heard, the company was in big trouble for failing to uphold the contract.

And yes, the slug was of a "protected class". Even the fact that the other crew were also of a "protected class" who did do their hard work, didn't like the man and wanted the company to rid themselves of the slug.