I'm not yet prepared to talk too much about my own personal experience with the subject, actually harder on my friends than on me. But I will say this much... To a Bethelite with 15+ years in, the mandated departures are DEVASTATING !!!
Only about 10 years ago, with the previous 'generation' of Governing Body, bros such as Sydlik assured the Bethel family that they need 'lifers'. A turnover of some of the young brothers is fine, but we need people who have experience, and that experience comes with brothers who stay for decades in Bethel. The older ones in the Infirmary that had served many years, but who now could do very little, are still valuable; they are an opportunity for the 'family' to show love and be a 'real family', not just a company of workers who are retired when they get old.
Similarly, during the years I slaved in Bethel, there were occasional 'purges' of anything that appeared to be of 'corporate mentality'. Never use the term, 'human resources'. Don't try to use 'worldly business' methods to push aside older ones for 'retirement' in favor of younger, 'computer savvy' brothers. The emphasis was on "family". They even produced a video for use inside Bethel to promote itself as a "home" and a "family" where you should serve forever.
When that older 'generation' of the Governing Body went into decline and began to be replaced by new GB members, I could see the "handwriting on the wall". Really, none of these "new boys" had been in Bethel during those years of the "Bethel FAMILY" promises. They came in as outsiders, had a short time in Service Department, and BAM! they're the "future Mrs. Jesus Christ" CEOs of Watchtower, Inc. One thing that would need to go, under the new regime is the "dead weight". Anyone not deemed "valuable" was to be dispatched to the field. Having served in Bethel, a big part of the problem was that you came in as "spiritually qualified" as a long-time pioneer, but had no college degree. Exactly what they want, right? But, once you get there, you find out that a college degree gets others royal treatment, at least "royal' by the impoverished Bethel "standard" treatment. Other really good friends I knew, got stuck with crappy jobs under idiot overseers. They had no real opportunity to be "valuable" to Bethel. So, when the "corporate attitude" now comes in, it's time to trim the 'fat'. Ready or not... OUT YOU GO!!!!
Additionally, these 'new boys' would rather not have too many hanging around that have more experience, knowledge, or qualifications than they have. Having known many of them personally, the new GBs are quite nice enough. But frankly, their years of experience in the field, eating the crap that's published in the Watchtower, doesn't give them the knowledge of the inner workings of the cult headquarters on how to keep producing new, fresh, delicious piles of crap. It's not going to work well to have new boys in charge, especially at a time of mounting failed prophecies and changed interpretation. None of them are a Freddie Franz that can whip up a craplicious, Watchtower Souffle that the sheeples can gleefully munch on!
The only GB still in from the former days are Brother Barr, much too sweet, humble, and old to object to the new boys. And of course, 'dear' Br. Jaracz. His mouth has been watering for this day when the others would croak receive their heavenly reward and he could take the reigns. Obvious delusions of grandeur going on in his head. He will do far more damage to the organization than all of us on JWD ever could.
But I digress... when you have a married Bethelite couple, who have known nothing but Bethel for 20+ years, have sacrificed opportunities for education, career, children, grandchildren, retirement savings, etc. in expectation that they would be in Bethel until the big A, how will they react when they see the mandated departures? At least for a married couple, if they'd gotten pregnant they could leave without the shame of being "told to leave". And what of the single brothers that additionally sacrificed marriage to serve Bethel even more wholesouled. Yep, they get asked to leave, too.
Does this not warm your heart?
Sorry, I'll stop there. This is all I can bear to submit tonight.