What frustrates older workers about young workers?

Q: What do you find frustrates older people about working with young people?

Top 4 Complaints from Older Workers about Young Workers

• Accuracy of work
• Late to work or frequent absences
• Perceived as always needing praise
• Higher turnover rates

The above certainly don’t apply to every young worker. But they are what is mentioned as problematic with some young workers if you ask what frustrates older workers. Let’s look at them individually:

Accuracy of work

Younger workers are perceived as hurrying through their work and not being as accurate as they should be.

In a rush to beat the clock, they may get sloppy. Though this can happen to all ages, often younger workers have not yet developed a credible work ethic.

What should older workers do if this is the problem?

Open the door to mentoring. If you show by example and assist other workers, they will begin to value how important accuracy is in business.

Late to work or frequent absences

Younger workers often have to learn the value of time management and the consequences when they don’t comply.

If the policy for tardiness or absences are clearly laid out, it also has to be enforced.

Older workers are resentful if a young worker is given a pass just because they are young. It is up to management to be fair with scheduling and missed work consequences.

Perceived as always needing praise

In one training session I led, an older woman was insistent that all young people need praise all the time. She said she read a study so it was true. (I read it on the Internet so it is true) The problem with this is that it like many of the others is cross the board labeling.

The need for praise isn’t an age-related trait. It is a personality characteristic that fits certain personalities.

In using the DISC assessment with my clients, I discovered that all ages are affected by the need for praise. Ironically, I profiled some young people who hate praise. They only want to hear if they do something wrong, otherwise leave them alone.

Study or no study, I don’t think this trait can be labeled for all young people or a generation.

Higher Turnover Rates

There are some young people who change jobs more frequently than others. Some of this is due to summer or college employment.

However, I know some young people who stayed in the same position longer than older workers so I would not say that this is an across the board kind of trait of young people.

These are potentially problematic areas and there are ways to get around them or resolve them. Mainly, older workers shouldn’t assume that all younger workers are the same, nor should all younger workers assume that older workers are the same.

In general, being kind to each other, using mentoring as a way to bring different skill sets will go a long way to a harmonious work place.

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