7 Tips for Working for a Younger Boss

I like to give a look of amusement to the abuse. I thank them for the negative commentary by stating that it makes me re-evaluate and acknowledge that, to the contrary, I'm pretty good at what I do. My younger colleagues treat me with deference and respect and come to ask me advice.

Many businesses are realizing that the "grey beards" are valuable because of their knowledge, experience, work ethic, productivity, etc.

I don't have to say anything because the first and second line supervisors will most likely never equal my documented accomplishments.

I get harassed a lot but, the bottom line is that if I leave, based upon my productivity and knowledge, there will be a whole lot of hurt and scrambling. One colleague said that if they really wanted to get rid of me, they would praise my skills to other managers.

Barry of CA 5:30PM January 07, 2011

It is important that older workers recognize their worth, but "remain sober in the enemy's camp," as the bible states. While older workers, in most cases, work because they need an income, the best that they can do is do their jobs well and stay away from the politics of the establishment. It is necessary to realize that you can no longer move and shake the routines of those individuals in charge, whether you think they are right or wrong.

I do not think that any professionals have been treated more unfairly than those in the field of education. The playing field changed almost overnight. Older teachers, especially those with health concerns requiring medication(diabetes, high-blood pressure, arthritis, etc.) that cost the insurance company money, were surplussed, or ousted after 20+ successful years on the job, thereby allowing the ecucational establishment to hire fresher, younger teachers at much less of an expense to the state retirement systems.

Mid-career educators moved into administration, whether ready or not. Some are down-right abusive to older teachers as they try to push them out. Others are more patient as they wait for the big exit.

When the whole field of education changed, older teachers were left to bear the brunt of the circumstances that all of this created. Teachers, themselves, were blamed for the condition that the furlough of older workers caused by the field of newly-hired workers. Those who were left in-tact are working quietly, trying to ease in a few more years until they are able to retire. Much of this is unfortunate, but it is being perpetuated from state to state, with a few states compassionately offering older teachers buy-outs.

karen walls of LA 1:27PM September 21, 2010

When working with a younger boss,I find that it is best to let them do the walking and,talking.

vicki of KS 7:12AM June 30, 2010

I found my PLUM JOB in Customer Service, mortgage servicing 3 years ago for a local bank. I wanted this job more than any other I had ever held. If they want to get rid of you for whatever reason - they'll find a way. In my case, it was pushing to take more calls daily to satisfy some scorecard requirement. The majority of my customers were complimentary and satisfied with the assistance I provided, I passed all the update tests with over 90%, and I knew the material very well. My co-workers were cheating on calls by transferring the longer-type calls back into the queue for someone else to handle. They logged another call for themselves and the customer had to wait again for a Rep to assist them. Escrow and tax calls could be long calls, especially with new mortgages. Customers have no clue how it all works and they ask for a "breakdown" of figures on their new escrow analysis. No one wanted to take these calls - and somehow they got away with it. I did some research in the department and found out how they were cheating in other ways - but when I complained it fell on deaf ears. It's so grossly unfair that I lost that job - yes they let me go and claimed it was for "At Will Employment." H.R. said I wasn't doing the job - HOGWASH!! I've been unemployed since May, 2009, I have a B.A. and years of experience. This bank let go many of their seasoned workers, hired in younger people and promoted them to team leaders. They're not qualified to run a department - it costs the company a lot by hiring and firing so much. When you invest in an employee's future - you don't term the person and start all over again without losing money. And this fast, fast, fast work style creates mistakes, multiple call-backs from customers, and stress on the employees. My work is good - but I am not the road-runner, and I don't work at a frantic pace. This push-mania for faster work is inefficient. Younger workers have a lot to learn about handling people and running departments. It's more about if you fit in or not. And age discrimination is at the top of the list. My question is, "How can they get away with this?" They log every little item against you so they have a list of job discrepancies to show if any question arises. You can find errors among anyone's work if you daily nit-pik. Many times, it's a judgment call - you may handle something a little different than your team leader would - but there's no problem with the result. The customer was happy - but the company sees it some other way. The work place today is outrageous. There's too much psychology and analysis going on, and if companies are so paranoid that they have to monitor their employees so closely - they should not be in business. The older worker is more fair, more adept at worker handling and running a functional, happy department.

Lemans of MI 4:38AM June 21, 2010