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We all know ageism is a sensitive subject in the workplace. When people get a little older, they sometimes get treated differently because they are viewed as out of touch or even incapable of performing their job functions the same way they used to. But it’s not just older generations who are getting discriminated against…It’s happening to the youngest generation of people in the office as well.
Entry-level employees are typically in their early twenties, and fresh out of college. Right now, that makes them proud members of Generation Y. Before I go on I would like to go ahead and get some of the stereotypes attached to our generation out of the way:
- We are entitled. We feel like we are getting shafted if our fist job offer doesn’t come with a corner office and a huge signing bonus.
- We need you to tell us how amazing we are. We grew up getting a trophy for winning first place as well as for coming in last. We got an “A” for effort so we need positive reinforcement regardless of what we produce.
- We are lazy and disloyal. We want to work 8:01-4:59 every day. Not a second more. We demand that our social life not be interrupted by our jobs. After all, it’s just a job, not a career, because we plan on finding another one in a few years anyway!
With this list in mind, it is easy for people to dismiss our generation both as employees and as coworkers. These stereotypes, which may or may not be true for some people, often prevent people from seeing the enormous value we can bring to the companies we work for. I know that I’ve experienced this firsthand and I have a feeling I’m not alone…
So what does reverse ageism look like? Well that is probably different for everyone, but for me it typically involves being the catch-all for everything technology related yet being overlooked when it comes to other aspects of my job. You see, another stereotype of our generation is that we know a lot about technology…and that one is pretty universally true. We grew up with computers, iPods, text messaging and the internet. We don’t use the instruction manuals on our new electronics. We turn them on and teach ourselves. So when our employer switches our e-mail system to Outlook, or purchases a new web-based database to track customers, we adapt. And quicker than our older coworkers, it seems.
Because of this uncanny ability to learn new technologies, we are often taken advantage of. We are the first (and sometimes only) people to learn how to do something so we are forever the “experts” on the subject. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to help. I will even teach someone how to do something if they are willing to learn. What I won’t do is their job for them every time they need to utilize this new technology but don’t know how. All too often our generation is expected to do this because we are the resident “technology gurus,” but when it comes to other areas of expertise, we are dismissed as young, naïve, or inexperienced.
You know something else our generation is known for? Multi-tasking. We can write a report for our boss, text our friend about happy hour and read a blog post about utilizing social media to help the company we work for improve their online presence all at the same time. The information that we are all bombarded with every day is sometimes overwhelming for older generations, but we’re used to it and we are able to absorb a lot of it.
What this means for our employers is that we are willing to learn a lot to get ahead. Our consumption of information did not stop in college and it isn’t likely to slow down anytime soon. We want to contribute and be an integral part of an organization but for this to happen, we must first be taken seriously.
So all we ask for is a little bit of credit every now and then! While we are doing everyone else’s jobs as they come to grasps with new technology, we are also learning everything we can about being successful professionals. We are using our technology savvy to connect with people across the world who can teach us more about being the best we can be. Please look past all the negative stereotypes of our generation because if you do, and allow us to become contributing members of your team, most of us won’t disappoint …In fact, you may even be a little impressed with what we bring to the table!
Have you experienced any reverse ageism in your workplace? If so, what does it look like for you?
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Comments
02.08.10
Hi Ashley,
I hear you and have to laugh a little. You are right and Ilove that you recognize this as reverse ageism. I am 51 (Yikes but cool!) and I see it both ways. What is funny is that oftenthe HR generalists that companies hire to "help develop our careers??" are about 28-30 ish. They assume many thing such as "Have you thought about online learning??" Huh? Listen anyone who can help their teen complete a FAFSA can basically program a computer!! One thing I learned when I was a manger was NOT to mother your people....Very bad and it makes you look one dimensional. I think you have it together and just being professional is a great tactic.
02.10.10
The problem that I see most Milleniels face, is that in your early/mid twenties, you're (mostly) pretty much all potential, and not much accomplishment yet. The problems with potential, is that, unless you do all the hard work to develope it and bring that potential into fruition as accomplishment, you've got nothing. The lessons are everywhere, and show up most glaringly in sports. How many potential stars never fulfilled their early promise, because they lacked the discipline and the ethic of hard work to develope their potential, and/or just simply attempted to glide by on innate talent and reputation.
As for multitasking, you said, " We can write a report for our boss, text our friend about happy hour and read a blog post about utilizing social media to help the company we work for improve their online presence all at the same time."
I don't know about you, but I don't have enough hands to do all that at the same time, and I sure don't know anyone who does, Milleniel or not. And I don't know anyone with a multi-core brain running a multi-threaded operating system who can do it all cognitively at the same time. To me, multitasking is a myth. The best a person can do, is to switch their attention rapidly enough to keep things moving, like a juggler spinning 28 plates at once. The problem I have, is that those who are attempting to multitask, often miss details and skip steps that will eventually bring things to a crashing halt, that could have been caught and corrected, if they weren't attempting to juggle so many things at once.
02.10.10
"To me, multitasking is a myth. The best a person can do, is to switch their attention rapidly enough to keep things moving, like a juggler spinning 28 plates at once. The problem I have, is that those who are attempting to multitask, often miss details and skip steps that will eventually bring things to a crashing halt, that could have been caught and corrected, if they weren't attempting to juggle so many things at once."
So true, @JRandom--and actual studies have shown that multitasking is bad for the brain over time. Even rapid switching lets too many details fall through the cracks, and precision matters more often than people think it does (even in non-technical fields).
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11.01.10
Thank you so much for this information! I think that it's sad when older people are treated differently in the workplace! Just my 2 cents...
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11.05.10
Of course ageism works both ways. Younger more competent employees are more often than not passed up for promotions for because of their age. I hope bosses start to see that skills ans competencies are more important than age. Anonymous Web Proxy
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11.09.10
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11.13.10
They assume many thing such as "Have you thought about online learning??" Huh? Listen anyone who can help their teen complete a FAFSA can basically program a computer!! One thing I learned when I was a manger was NOT to mother your people. Thanks for sharing this information.
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11.18.10
Great post! To be honest, about half of my co-workers (of our generation) fit into these stereotypes; they don't seem to grow in their position at all with those attitudes. I have faced ageism at work when people mistake my enthusiasm and positive attitude as being naive. I tell them that I will be this way on my deathbed.
One piece of advice, and thing which I learned early was that when it comes to leading a group of more experienced workers is to act as more a facilitator then a manager.
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11.27.10
After reading your post, I would try to observe some of the intances that you mentioned in our company, the Debt Management. Thanks for sharing this. I will share later how the reverse ageism look like here.
11.27.10
Hi Ashley,
I enjoyed your post thoroughly about the stereotypes and misconceptions that us older people have towards the younger generations.
Those stereotypes have been used on me when I was in my 20's, or at least I felt the same frustration you feel. I think experience is what you actually experience or learn about, right? I think it is safe to say that todays young people have an opportunity to learn much more faster, and thus experience more at an earlier age. With so much interconnected now, I think this is very true.
The one thing I would like young people to harness and talk about more, is their passion and emotion! I see a passion, and a connectedness (is that a word?) with their surroundings, and the surroundings of others throughout the community that I have never seen in my generation or others. This is a very good thing! I think when people harness this passion, and this urge to do what is right for everyone on the planet, good things will happen for our planet and for the people and resources on the planet.
To all Gen Xers Yers and all others, let's focus more on what is our passion, and less about what pays the bills. If we do what we are passionate about, the bills will be paid eventually. I am just dissapointed in myself, that it has taken me so many years to understand this.
Great post, I hope to read more.
All the best,
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