Coworker 5 Years Older than Me Keeps Teferring to Us as The Same Age

[Anonymous]

Sorry, op, you're both middle-aged and close in age to boot. You're the one who seems to want to appear "young" but it's just not the case.

[Anonymous]

I assumed in the OP that you must be < age 25, because I definitely see early college graduates thinking anyone late 20's or older as "old" and like, must be dinosaurs who are totally out of touch.

But you're both in your 50's?! Lol, of course you're "about the same age."

[Anonymous]

You’re the same generation and likely same decade. I don’t see the issue.

I have an employee who is constantly making references between me and his daughter. His daughter is 22 and I’m 35 with 3 kids. He’s trying to be offensive though but I’m sure it’s just his insecurity about being managed by someone younger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'll be the lone voice of dissent here and say that this is a big deal in the workplace because of ageism.

OP, you should make sure to look as young and active as possible. Your coworker is trying to not get kicked out too early because of her age, and to achieve this, she's trying to muddy the waters about other people relatively close to her age range.

You don't need to correct her. All you need to do is express a youthful persona. Dye any greys/whites, take care of yourself, relate now you went skydiving on the weekend (kidding, but youthful activities), not espouse obviously aging traits, like not knowing how the new computer system works, etc...

Kind of ironic how dated this advice is!

"make sure to look as young and active as possible."

??? WTF. How?
Have "pep" and "vigor"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In conversations with others. "Oh, yeah- he's about the same age as me and Sarah."

"I love Sandra Bullock. She would have been in HS the same time as Sarah and me."

It's oddly annoying in a huge way.

She’s right though. Unless you’re four. Are you four?

[Anonymous]

OP you're definitely younger, because you're over the top sensitive and delicate about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound like a pill.

This. Dang. I would hate to be your co-worker. Unless you are under 20, you are in the same age bracket as your co-worker.

[Anonymous]

A co-worker asked me how old I was yesterday and I told her I am 50. She said OMG, I thought we were the same age! I asked how old she was and she said 53. I told her we are practically the same age. C'mon, man!

Then my neighbor who is 20 years older than me said something about "women our age." NO!

[Anonymous]

I've got a coworker who is at least 15 years older than I am, maybe a bit more, who does this. It is only one of the ways in which she annoys me.

[Anonymous]

So one of you is 61 and the other is 66 or something, and you're like, "IM SO MUCH YOUNGER"? Thats silly. Stop doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'll be the lone voice of dissent here and say that this is a big deal in the workplace because of ageism.

OP, you should make sure to look as young and active as possible. Your coworker is trying to not get kicked out too early because of her age, and to achieve this, she's trying to muddy the waters about other people relatively close to her age range.

You don't need to correct her. All you need to do is express a youthful persona. Dye any greys/whites, take care of yourself, relate now you went skydiving on the weekend (kidding, but youthful activities), not espouse obviously aging traits, like not knowing how the new computer system works, etc...

Kind of ironic how dated this advice is!

It's always been true. It will never stop being true.

[Anonymous]

I've had a few coworkers do this, but they were mid-50s and I was late 30s. I used to think they thought I looked older, but now I think for some, they see time as not years but as life stages. Maybe they just view both of you as being in the same stage of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In conversations with others. "Oh, yeah- he's about the same age as me and Sarah."

"I love Sandra Bullock. She would have been in HS the same time as Sarah and me."

It's oddly annoying in a huge way.

Sandra Bullock is 59. Are you actually 59ish years old and getting worked up about this?!

OP will have you know she’s 54, which is very different! She’s barely eligible to join AARP and has a whole year until she qualifies for a Verizon discount. Sandy is ancient in comparison!

Wait! Is there a Verizon discount ? My phone bill is way too high…

[Anonymous]

I feel like this only matters if you are in your 20s or younger. You are close enough in age to be considered pretty similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'll be the lone voice of dissent here and say that this is a big deal in the workplace because of ageism.

OP, you should make sure to look as young and active as possible. Your coworker is trying to not get kicked out too early because of her age, and to achieve this, she's trying to muddy the waters about other people relatively close to her age range.

You don't need to correct her. All you need to do is express a youthful persona. Dye any greys/whites, take care of yourself, relate now you went skydiving on the weekend (kidding, but youthful activities), not espouse obviously aging traits, like not knowing how the new computer system works, etc...

I wouldn’t ascribe this intent. I am also a woman in my 50s and have a coworker who is just 2 to 3 years older than me. If I say we’re about the same age, she will point out that I’m actually a bit younger. And honestly, she looks way better than me: she’s taller, a lifelong athlete and has great skin. She’s just the sort of person who is very precise. I think the difference is negligible at this point. (Well, maybe I’ll care when she gets to retire before I do - but until then, there’s no difference.)