Losing a job after years of service can be difficult, especially for older professionals trying to find work again. One LinkedIn post has highlighted this reality after a man who was laid off from his corporate job was seen working as a delivery partner in Noida.
The post was shared by social entrepreneur Kiran Verma, who described meeting a 56-year-old Porter rider while sending an envelope across the city. What began as a routine delivery soon turned into a conversation about layoffs, age, and starting over.
A Simple Delivery Became A Conversation
Verma said he booked a Porter delivery because it cost just Rs 40 to send an urgent letter within Noida. When the rider arrived, Verma asked him to come upstairs since he lived on the first floor and was not fully dressed.
According to Verma, the rider climbed the stairs with some difficulty, politely refused a glass of water, and completed the pickup with a smile.
During their interaction, the rider reportedly said, “Aaj kaam hi nahi tha, wait kar raha tha kaam ke liye.” Verma said the rider appeared well-spoken and neatly dressed, which made him curious. After the pickup, he invited him to sit down and talk for a few minutes.
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Rider Shares His Story
According to Verma’s LinkedIn post, the rider introduced himself as Manoj, a 56-year-old resident of Noida. Manoj reportedly said he had worked in the administration department of Tata AIA Life Insurance for 14 years before losing his job during layoffs in 2023. He also claimed that he had struggled to find another corporate role because of his age and health concerns.
While speaking about losing his job, Manoj shared a comparison that stayed with Verma. “Beta jab sabzi banate hai toh curry leaf sabse pehle daalte hai, par jab sabzi khate hai toh sabse pehle curry nikalte hai.”
Verma clarified that he did not know the actual circumstances behind the layoff and could not independently verify the reasons or assess Manoj’s work performance. However, he said the remark reflected what many experienced professionals feel after losing their jobs.
Before the rider left, Verma said he paid him more than the delivery charge as a small gesture of appreciation. Sharing the experience, he wrote, “Life is hard, real life situations are harder and the hardest is facing the reality that you wanted to do something but the life don’t consider you worth giving work.” He added that he watched the rider leave from his balcony “as if I am seeing off someone known to me.”
Porter Responds To The Post
The LinkedIn post received wide attention, with many people discussing layoffs, age-related hiring challenges, and the rise of gig work among experienced professionals.
Porter also responded publicly, writing, “We thank you for sharing this heartfelt post and appreciating the effort showcased by our team.” The company did not comment on the rider’s personal claims.
A LinkedIn user wrote, “Life is hard, people have battles we cannot see and sometimes we dont even understand. Kindness, compassion, a conversation is all a person needs to make it through the day.”
Another commenter said the story showed how experienced professionals are often overlooked despite years of contribution. A person thanked Verma for sharing what they described as a reminder that “life is hard for everyone, only the situations are different.”
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