"Millennials" Vs Older People

[Ruptga]

I don't see OP obsessing over anything. I'd be concerned if I worked with a bunch of douchebags that were trying to get people fired over nothing, wouldn't you?

 

[Drako]

I think it comes down to personality types in addition to age.

Older people dislike us younger folks because we exude positive energy and are actually in a good mood most of the time. We generally have a more optimistic outlook on life and try to make the best of our situation. We also tend to be more social with one another and are much more willing to spend time with co-workers outside of work. We don't necessarily agree that life has to be some endless struggle.

Older folks have already had these positive feelings drilled out of them by decades of dull, repetitive, and uninspiring work. They've built up a lot mental baggage over the years which governs what they consider to be 'normal' behavior. This puts them into a negative mindset where not only are they not enjoying themselves, but they don't want to see anyone else enjoying themselves either. They will behave in petty, trite, or outright rude ways as an outlet for their displeasure -> office politics.

(obviously these are generalizations and don't apply to everyone)

Anyway, these are just my thoughts on the current generational gap based on my experiences and others my age. I urge my peers to resist becoming the same miserable, curmudgeon-like people that we despise today.

Wow, quoted for hilarity.

The only "older folks" that I work with that exhibit negativity are the staunch progressives that demand veganism and carbon taxes.

 

[Humpy]

I don't see OP obsessing over anything. I'd be concerned if I worked with a bunch of douchebags that were trying to get people fired over nothing, wouldn't you?

Why? What are you going to do about it?

 

[Ruptga]

Come to think of it, I've been reported over trivial BS before. It was something along the lines of "he quit working before the scheduled break time." Apparently the peasant missed (or was one of) all the people that walked past me minutes before I stopped working. I did good work and in fact was almost always working to the last minute, so my supervisor blew it off but warned about how common those busybodies were, and that once formalized those things are hard to make go away.

I didn't stay there real long since I was miserable, in part because of the useless gossips. I'd advise you to start looking to either move up or move out as soon as you start to resent your circumstances. That's actually good advice in general, but especially applies when you're being hounded by useless tattlers. Once they single you out it won't stop until one of you leaves or they get some kind of official reprimand over it.

 

[KlokWyze]

+1 for the most part, you still have to pay a little attention to what is going on around you, but obsessing over it is ridiculous.

One former high end lab I used to work at used to have an old Ghostbusters crossed out Rat on it, No Rats Allowed sign we had up there.

That was mostly because we only had 3 people in there and in general produced flawless work and wanted to keep it that way.

Well, you can't just show up to work completely walking around like you own the place and don't care about the rules, social norms of the place at all. That's for sure. You have to be social with everyone to a degree, but once all that petty shit starts going down you can just flat out ignore it. You have to. Otherwise you get sucked in with the lowlife corporate scum that will do the same repetitive shit until they retire.

The petty stuff like: He left 10 minutes early BS. I would LAUGH if a manager would bring that to my attention. And if they were serious I would walk. Any management team not focusing on results and a genuine professional work ethic is a failure in the making. Have fun with that shit.

If you're in an industry where you can't find other opportunities, than IMO, you're in a shit sector.

I don't see OP obsessing over anything. I'd be concerned if I worked with a bunch of douchebags that were trying to get people fired over nothing, wouldn't you?

Yes. Of course. All large corporations are partly comprised of people like this and it brings everyone down. Mid-size and smaller companies are lesser afflicted with this disease, but some can be just as bad.

 

[Ruptga]

Why? What are you going to do about it?

Either move up, move out, or get them kicked out. People that do that are a drag on the unit/company, not to mention myself. More to the point, sitting around with my head up my ass will only guarantee that I'm unprepared when they come for me.

 

[MongGrel]

I've been reported over trivial bullshit and that guy was fired shortly afterward, myself.

But he'd been building up a history of being and idiot interested more in sticking his nose where it didn't belong instead of doing his job.

 

[KlokWyze]

Wow, quoted for hilarity.

The only "older folks" that I work with that exhibit negativity are the staunch progressives that demand veganism and carbon taxes.

Quote is funny, but I find the staunch conservatives AND progressives to have bitter, horrendous and boring personalities. Ideological extremism in all forms is bad.

 

[Drako]

I don't see OP obsessing over anything. I'd be concerned if I worked with a bunch of douchebags that were trying to get people fired over nothing, wouldn't you?

Apparently you have not read any of her thread post in P&N.

Everyone that is not "her people" is against her. It's a pattern.

 

[Drako]

Quote is funny, but I find the staunch conservatives AND progressives to have bitter, horrendous and boring personalities. Ideological extremism in all forms is bad.

I'm glad you agree. Thank you. :thumbsup:

 

[Ruptga]

Eh, it's a blue moon when I go into P&N. Actually, that's mostly because...

Quote is funny, but I find the staunch conservatives AND progressives to have bitter, horrendous and boring personalities. Ideological extremism in all forms is bad.

and extremists are pretty much the only ones regularly in P&N. The whole forum could be permabanned and it would probably be a net positive. But anyway, whatever OP said elsewhere, I haven't seen anything in this thread that fits those accusations.

 

[Humpy]

Either move up, move out, or get them kicked out. People that do that are a drag on the unit/company, not to mention myself. More to the point, sitting around with my head up my ass will only guarantee that I'm unprepared when they come for me.

I guess I haven't had the experiences that would lead to this perspective. To me it sounds like your options are to somehow promote yourself, to leave, or to start complaining about the complainers and hope management doesn't just label you as yet another problem employee.

None of those seem like realistic options to me. I prefer to ignore the BS and get my shit done. If that doesn't work out then I'll move on.

 

[SheHateMe]

Why? What are you going to do about it?

There's obviously not much you can do about it. Saying that you shouldn't care is a bit silly. I personally would like to know if someone has been reporting me.

People get fired over those sorts of things.

I don't gossip about people at work, so, I'm not sure why you are calling me gossipy and immature. I have only been at this job for 2 months and the office politics are really in your face. I like the job but am thinking about leaving to be completely honest. I have absolutely no desire to work in that sort of environment. I have enough conflict at home, I don't need it In the workplace. I have a job interview on Monday, and Thursday. I have backup plans.

 

[Ruptga]

Of course you can't just give yourself a promotion, but if you've been there a while or know and have impressed those above you it may be possible to arrange transfer to another department, or you may be able to get a small promotion that moves you out of contact with the troublemakers.

Leaving is of course a last resort. If I had no other options and was unhappy at work I wouldn't just quit, but I'd be looking for another acceptable job.

Getting rid of them is probably the hardest possibility, since it requires that the right people in power like/value you more than the busybody, and the busybody probably has seniority. But, if they have actual dirt of their own it may be possible to use that against them, either to get them fired or to cut down their ego enough that they mind their own business. On the other side, you could try sucking up to them, or doing them favors so they feel indebted enough to "let it slide." Of course any of these options require finding out who's doing it, which may be impossible.

Ignoring it and focusing on your work is generally a great idea, but superior workers fall prey to politics all the time so that can't be your only card.

 

[MongGrel]

I guess I haven't had the experiences that would lead to this perspective. To me it sounds like your options are to somehow promote yourself, to leave, or to start complaining about the complainers and hope management doesn't just label you as yet another problem employee.

None of those seem like realistic options to me. I prefer to ignore the BS and get my shit done. If that doesn't work out then I'll move on.

+1

 

[Drako]

There's obviously not much you can do about it. Saying that you shouldn't care is a bit silly. I personally would like to know if someone has been reporting me.

Just ask your supervisor, and be done with the drama. Sometimes it is just that easy.

 

[Humpy]

There's obviously not much you can do about it. Saying that you shouldn't care is a bit silly. I personally would like to know if someone has been reporting me.

People get fired over those sorts of things.

I don't gossip about people at work, so, I'm not sure why you are calling me gossipy and immature. I have only been at this job for 2 months and the office politics are really in your face. I like the job but am thinking about leaving to be completely honest. I have absolutely no desire to work in that sort of environment. I have enough conflict at home, I don't need it In the workplace. I have a job interview on Monday, and Thursday. I have backup plans.

If you are not gossipy and immature then how do I know so much about what the lady in the break room said, or how your co-worker was "tattled" on, or about the intern with colorful attire and matching jewelry and shoes, or what your managers said about the tattle tellers?

It will be hard to find a job where you don't have to deal with crazy people. Hopefully you find one where there is a tolerable few.

 

[Leyawiin]

Welcome to the wonderful world of office politics and games. Its being going on forever and will still be going on when Millenials are butting heads with the young "Mid-Century" generation (only the shoe will be on the other foot).

 

[OverVolt]

Make sure you aren't accidentally tattling on people yourself by asking newbie questions around the managers. Happens all the time.

I've had people tattle on me at work but I never return in kind. I usually make sure to just talk to people and get to know them a bit. You'd be surprised what people will let slip by if you just clue them in. "Hey guys I'm really hungry I'm taking lunch 30 minutes early!" goes a long way instead of just slipping out randomly. Even if its technically against the rules if you are a more upfront person I've noticed people are less likely to tattle on you.

Everyone is going to break some minor rule/petty rule at sometime or another. Maybe by being overly cautious of the minor rules you are inadvertently bringing too much attention to them, making other people feel like they don't have the freedom to take lunch when they want (technically against the rules but normally NBD), and if they feel that way, they WILL tattle on you for say, asking when its appropriate to take lunch in front of management as the new guy and then leaving 10 minutes early anyway.

"I did alot of work today I'm going to leave 10 minutes early is that okay with everyone?" goes a looong way.

 

[Eug]

Speaking of clothing changes at workplaces...

There was a great illustrative incident back a couple of decades ago or so in Japan in one of the stock exchanges. There were no traders on the floor that were female except one new one, and most the old guard males didn't want any females there. So they trotted out an old rule that all traders must have an official company uniform to trade on the floor. And indeed, all the men did have company-sponsored blue uniforms, while this Japanese woman had none, since she was the only one and from a from a foreign company which had no such uniforms. I think it was a Scandinavian company.

So instead of fighting the uniform rule, the company created an official uniform just for her... in red. It was hilarious to see pictures with this single woman in a distinctive bright red uniform in a sea of blue men.

Eventually, people came around.

Anyhoo, I see no problem with tasteful but more casual dress. I just don't want to see people with pants hanging around their ankles. Maybe that will be considered tasteful in 50 years, but it sure isn't now.

 

[HOSED]

The only "older folks" that I work with that exhibit negativity are the staunch progressives that demand veganism and carbon taxes.

It is funny that many young people I encounter actually purchase FrankenFood that contains GMO's - One would think that this generation would be out on the streets protesting the policies of Monsanto not tacitly supporting them ...
Back on topic I was very fortunate to have a job troubleshooting & setting up computers. At one point I was working solo (It was like heaven)
Eventually the kids started being hired and between arriving late, smoke breaks, coffee binges, and of course personal phone calls I did some reporting for the good of the company of course.
Thank god I had a great boss who allowed flex hours so my exposure to
the aforementioned time wasters was minimized.
The best thing that happened to me was getting laid off after 25 years, Now I work from home when I want to!

 

[JManInPhoenix]

When I was younger, all of my older workers thought my generation was a bunch of punk asses. Now I think the younger generation is a bunch of punk asses. When the OP is 50 he will think the new hires right out of school are a bunch of lazy shits.

Every place I have ever worked (navy, production, field service, tech support, engineering, etc) has had a narc or two. Usually people that are not that good at what they do and have too much time on their hands.

 

[Virge_]

I appreciate that this thread is significantly more level-headed and has legitimate communication vs. the insults of the other thread. Hopefully it stays that way.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Old people can be terrible,.. and usually, it bites them in the ass.

Young people can be terrbile,.. and usually, it bites them in the ass.

Point being; if you are young or old, it does not matter,... being an asshole is age agnostic.

 

[NoCreativity]

In our office we have two "time cops". One a ready-to-retire older guy and one millenial girl. Stupidity doesn't stick to one generation of employee.

And there isn't an older Vs younger vibe where I work. You frequently see employees of all ages socializing whether it is eating lunch together or going for drinks after work.