Have you experienced ageism at work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: BTW my kids are all Gen Z and can't wait to overthrow the millennium hipster man bun lazy work from home diversity sustainability open office sandal wearing dig walking sandal wearing hipsters who are in there way.

Guess what kids born in 2000s number on form of preferred communication is in person and want to actually go to work. There childhood was two huge recessions not the party time 1990s. Don't worry you can text and drink Starbucks in your nursing homes.

Ummm, what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 37. Old to the millenials, and young to the baby boomers. I have found I enjoy working with the millenials much much more. I work in a corporate setting. The millenials are bright and fresh, very energetic, lots of fun, proactive, creative, and very accepting.

Otoh, the boomers in my office (which has thousands of people), often act like dinosaurs. They are not open to listening to new ideas, they are rarely energetic, a lot are very overweight, they do not know or care to learn the new technology out there. They have been in their exact same roles and jobs for decades. They are not creative, and they have very limited knowledge because they haven't worked anywhere else or done any other job. So it's only so much you can learn from them. Their leadership skills also suck.

My best boss was a millenial 10 years younger than myself. On that team, I worked it's a bunch of millenials, and we pushed out a lot of innovative, meaningful work. My current boss is pushing 50 and only became a manager because she's been there forever. She never bothered to learn leadership skills, and doesn't care to become a good leader. All the baby boomer management above her is the same way. I cannot way to leave this group, which is nothing but baby boomers. Nice enough people at times, but a huge drag to work with.

I have a question for you. 1) Have you had a parent die? 2) Do you have kids? 3) If so, how hold are your kids? 4) How many jobs have you held since you graduated college? 5) do you have a partner or are you single? Knowing these questions will help to determine a lot about what you just said above...

Oh my god, it’s graduated FROM college! Anyone care to guess how old I am?

[Anonymous]

I know a lot of people who get reverse ageism. Older people making snide remarks to young people who are often exceptionally competent and informed. Like, "well that happened when you were in diapers" or "oh you wouldn't remember that, its before your time...." referring to stuff they know a lot about even though they weren't alive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of people who get reverse ageism. Older people making snide remarks to young people who are often exceptionally competent and informed. Like, "well that happened when you were in diapers" or "oh you wouldn't remember that, its before your time...." referring to stuff they know a lot about even though they weren't alive.

The legal definition of age discrimination is for the age group over 40.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of people who get reverse ageism. Older people making snide remarks to young people who are often exceptionally competent and informed. Like, "well that happened when you were in diapers" or "oh you wouldn't remember that, its before your time...." referring to stuff they know a lot about even though they weren't alive.

The legal definition of age discrimination is for the age group over 40.

I know. Wasn't trying to hijack the thread. "Ageism" can be used more broadly than the legal definition and I thought this might be interesting to some readers.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I worked in a place where we needed to move around every three years. My hair finally started to go gray at age 51 and suddenly, I had a very hard time getting the next assignment. Previously, I never had a problem and was usually hired right away. Went through 6 interviews that year. Fortunately, I had another woman hire me and it worked out great. She wanted my experience and it worked out well. I think this is a woman's issue and argues for dying one's hair.

[Anonymous]

When I was applying for jobs cold, the career coach told me not to put time in front of my degree, and only list the last 2-3 jobs. Once I have a reputation with my clients, nobody cares about my age.

[Anonymous]

In my field they call it "coachable." The assumption is that if you are over 30 you are not coachable. What they don't understand is that all of the so-called new-ish-ness is not new at all. It is recycled and given a new name with a twist. When I started this career over a decade ago we started with the same crap that the "young folk" think is new and shiny.

Anonymous wrote:I have not experienced it being directed at me, but I'm a recruiter and can't tell you how many times a hiring manager has specified wanting someone "young and trainable". There is definitely a belief that anyone who isn't young is set in their ways/untrainable. It is too bad.

It's not trainability - it's naivete and a willingness to work hard in order to make someone else wealthy. This goes double for people who have young kids and a big mortgage (expenses that can't be cut and golden handcuffs). They don't want someone in their 40s or 50s because that person will be looking to become wealthy him/herself, kids are mostly grown up and the house is close to being paid off (or has substantial equity). That candidate will be less inclined to tolerate BS and will quit/find another job.

[Anonymous]

I watched my mom go through it and now I am experiencing the same thing. I have a young face so as long as I stay on top of my grey hair I can keep them guessing. However I have so much experience now that they can do the math.

Anonymous wrote:When I was applying for jobs cold, the career coach told me not to put time in front of my degree, and only list the last 2-3 jobs. Once I have a reputation with my clients, nobody cares about my age.

[Anonymous]

YES! I could have written this!

Anonymous wrote:For me what I'm discovering in my workplace (at 48) that I can learn a lot from the younger co-workers about current trends in the field, IF they are willing to share and willing to listen. That is the case for half of those I work for..the others have no interest in my experience and point of view and just want to re-invent the wheel..so I let them...its takes a lot of work and eventually they come back and ask me a question about a procedure that was already in place but they were trying to create. In general the difference can be manageable if everyone comes to the workplace with an open mind and willingness to listen and share but if they come in the thought they know best its their way is the only way...that is where the conflict lies. Up until the last year I've had great experiences with working will all ages in our office..we have some new hires right now that unfortunately seem to fit the stereotype under 30 image.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:YES! I could have written this!

Anonymous wrote:For me what I'm discovering in my workplace (at 48) that I can learn a lot from the younger co-workers about current trends in the field, IF they are willing to share and willing to listen. That is the case for half of those I work for..the others have no interest in my experience and point of view and just want to re-invent the wheel..so I let them...its takes a lot of work and eventually they come back and ask me a question about a procedure that was already in place but they were trying to create. In general the difference can be manageable if everyone comes to the workplace with an open mind and willingness to listen and share but if they come in the thought they know best its their way is the only way...that is where the conflict lies. Up until the last year I've had great experiences with working will all ages in our office..we have some new hires right now that unfortunately seem to fit the stereotype under 30 image.

I am 55 and my niche is I build depts. Usually when I appear things are bad at a big company or a start up. I learn from young people and I enjoy young people. I look young act young and have young kids. At my 10 year old gymnastics right now.

What I bring to table is I have been working a long time. DR/BCP meeting a few weeks ago I realized the 33 year old had no clue. 9/11 etc all too young

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I FEEL old at my office because I am in the older range of employees and it is a shrinking group. Where are all of the 40 and 50 somethings? We keep getting in younger employees and most from other countries so just being American and older is putting me into a small minority. It is lonely.

My only advice is to open your mind a bit - this isn't to say you're closed minded, rather that you're perhaps just accustomed to a more homogeneous workplace. Also, look at yourself more as a mentor to these new folks, but don't come off as someone with more "seniority" than they have (which is how many people in government and union shops do). Offer your advice once or twice, and if they don't want it, don't offer again. Trust me when I say that they'll be back when they find themselves over their heads. In that case, don't tell them "I told you so," but instead say "I'm glad you came to me, maybe I can point you in the right direction." You'll gain their respect. Remember, you're not their mommy or daddy, you're just a colleague with more experience.

EXTREMELY POOR ADVICE- Unless you plan on being forced out of your job. I'm in my 50s- helped younger foreigners in an IT environ- they worked for a LOT less. After I shared my expertise, hoping for a promotion and respect, guess what? I was laid off. I kick myself daily for being so stupid. Trying starting new in your 50s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 37. Old to the millenials, and young to the baby boomers. I have found I enjoy working with the millenials much much more. I work in a corporate setting. The millenials are bright and fresh, very energetic, lots of fun, proactive, creative, and very accepting.

Otoh, the boomers in my office (which has thousands of people), often act like dinosaurs.

Same, although I find Millennials tend not to be great with typical office software like Outlook, because they only encounter it for the first time at the office.

The worst ageists in my office are the late 40s / early 50s people, toward the people in their 60s or older. I think they feel themselves slowing down, and lash out at the people slowing more / already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I FEEL old at my office because I am in the older range of employees and it is a shrinking group. Where are all of the 40 and 50 somethings? We keep getting in younger employees and most from other countries so just being American and older is putting me into a small minority. It is lonely.

My only advice is to open your mind a bit - this isn't to say you're closed minded, rather that you're perhaps just accustomed to a more homogeneous workplace. Also, look at yourself more as a mentor to these new folks, but don't come off as someone with more "seniority" than they have (which is how many people in government and union shops do). Offer your advice once or twice, and if they don't want it, don't offer again. Trust me when I say that they'll be back when they find themselves over their heads. In that case, don't tell them "I told you so," but instead say "I'm glad you came to me, maybe I can point you in the right direction." You'll gain their respect. Remember, you're not their mommy or daddy, you're just a colleague with more experience.

EXTREMELY POOR ADVICE- Unless you plan on being forced out of your job. I'm in my 50s- helped younger foreigners in an IT environ- they worked for a LOT less. After I shared my expertise, hoping for a promotion and respect, guess what? I was laid off. I kick myself daily for being so stupid. Trying starting new in your 50s.

I was the poster of the above-bold advice. I'll admit that I missed the reference to "from other countries," so I would agree that sharing advice and being a mentor could be detrimental. Notwithstanding this, I did NOT say that you should teach them everything you know. It's also important that upper-management not have a clear idea that you're the sole repository of critical advice. If they do, you'll be tasked with training the younger, foreign workers. Better to keep your head down, but also look for opportunities to gather information that might represent "insurance" against a layoff. At a couple of my prior companies, some key managers were sleeping with younger employees that reported to them. Others were falsifying expense reports. Still others were allegedly fudging time sheets submitted to end customers. There was one guy at a prior company who was very well-paid and often found himself on the annual RIF list, only to have his name taken off shortly before it came out. It turned out that he knew where the bodies were buried and wasn't shy about telling a few executives that he knew their secrets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I worked in a place where we needed to move around every three years. My hair finally started to go gray at age 51 and suddenly, I had a very hard time getting the next assignment. Previously, I never had a problem and was usually hired right away. Went through 6 interviews that year. Fortunately, I had another woman hire me and it worked out great. She wanted my experience and it worked out well. I think this is a woman's issue and argues for dying one's hair.

Yes, in the workplace, it is very important for women to dye their hair to cover up any grey. For women, grey hair is very bad in the workplace. Fortunately, there is an easy solution -- just cover it up with hair dye. I have my hair highlighted professionally every 5 weeks ($200 per visit), and it's worth every penny.