Older People in the Workplace

[baaaaadgoatjoke]

So I've seen a bunch of material out there addressing ways for corporations to deal with "Millenials" coming into the workplace and what to expect, etc. How about the opposite?

I don't want this thread to put a spotlight on my situation because I'm looking for generalities here, but I'm stuck with 2 coworkers who are both over 55 and there's just something not working about this. I figure as I get older and they are phased out this will be less of a problem since my "millenials" will begin to take over, but I have to make due with what's presented and hope for the best.

Obviously I'm not willing to change myself completely, but having some idea of what previous generations have gone through, their outlooks and expectations might help bridge this gap.

So.. "Older" people in the workplace, what do you want from us?

[dafydd manton]

It's the pigeon-holing, instead of taking people on their individual merit that makes me very glad to be self-employed, and working on my own.

[OrphanPip]

Once, at work I had to train someone twice my age, who also happened to have a master's degree, in comparison to my bachelor's, I felt very awkward about it. He had been laid off by a pharmaceutical company, it must have been difficult for him.

In general though, I'm quite used to working with people older than me, being quite young myself, and I've had far more negative work experiences with workers of my own age group who are often lazy and incompetent.

[Emil Miller]

In my experience, it cuts both ways. When I was younger, I worked with men much older who looked upon work as somewhere to go to get away from the wife and would sit around smoking and yarning all day without doing any work.
On the other hand, I have seen a similar lack of commitment in people who were younger than I. Perhaps in the US people are expected to do what they are paid for but it's not so among much of the British workforce where column-dodging used to be, and possibly still is, the order of the day.

[baaaaadgoatjoke]

It's the pigeon-holing, instead of taking people on their individual merit that makes me very glad to be self-employed, and working on my own.

Are you suggesting that people are not a product of their time and place? Or that the passing of time doesn't change your perspective? Do you hold the same beliefs you did when you were younger?

[MANICHAEAN]

I'm 67 in three weeks time and still doing a 12 hour day, six & a half days a week. I also realise I'm one of the lucky ones.

I enjoy work, I enjoy earning good money, work gives me dignity & I can never forget my father who was made redundant at 62 & regarded himself as, (and I quote) "robbed"of three years work.

All those years of learning your trade or profession. The appreciation & satisfaction you get from passing some of that on. Is it so wrong?

Every time I go back to the UK I get reminded "You must take your old age pension by the time you are 70". Why? So that I can be categorised as a senior citizen, to be respected but somehow past it.

The body may slow down, but the mind & the free wheeling imagination inherent in your pesona will not die if you have inherent in you the stubborn refusal to accept meekly whatever fate throws at you.

I always remember the lines of the poem "Lycidas"

"Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise,"
"That last infirmity of noble mind,"
"To scorn delights and live laborious days."

[dafydd manton]

I have gained a tremendous amount of experience, I have seen situations than somebody with less experience will not have, I had the intelligence to learn from other people's mistakes, always a good idea when you don't know what they know, and I would suggest that I have a more balanced view than I had when younger. i would also suggest, certainly in Britain, that the older generations, especially those who have worked in certain environments, have a more developed work ethic, having had to put in tremendous amounts of effort just to survive. It would be a little immature of me to think that my values and perspectives haven't changed, I shouldn't like to be that arrogant, but I fail to see how that is a problem, certainly with what I do.

[MANICHAEAN]

Well said Daf.
Sock it to em!

[plainjane]

It's been many years since I worked out in an office or the like, I've been self-employed for that time, but I do recall that some of the older workers in the law offices I worked in were treated with respect. They were the ones that knew the ropes, knew the background of the lawyers and how to handle situations.
I was really only a youngster and went by what they said was proper.

One thing I do notice and it infuriates me. When I would go places with my Aunt, who was about 30 years older than myself, clerks in stores, or really anyone we'd deal with in a business setting would look to me for information....even though it was she that was conducting business.
Finally, I'd baldly state, whilst pointing to her that ....... she's the one spending the money, ask her. And, while that wasn't entirely true, it was my way of drawing attention to their poor and to my mind, rude behavior.

[dafydd manton]

It might be interesting for all concerned to know how old the OP is, so that we can identify with having been that age. Thank you. And before you ask, I'm 55.

[Emil Miller]

I'm all in favour of those who want to work past pensionable age being allowed to do so if they are still capable. I have seen men of 60 forced out of their job because that was the rule in the Home Office where I worked for about three years. In the Ministry of Defence, the retirement age was 65 but I walked away from it because I wanted some time to myself and also to write a book which I considered necessary. I have never for one moment regretted my decision and could kick myself for not having left earlier. In fact I remarked to my former colleagues that I'd rather be on the scrap heap than the crap heap any day. Every morning I thank heaven that I don't have to get up and, above all, face the London rush hour which is simply hell on earth. Unless one is working in a job that is singularly interesting or needs to continue earning, I personally don't see any point in working beyond the normal retirement age. I once knew of a college lecturer who read the Daily Worker and the Financial Times every day; when asked why, he said that, although he had a social conscience, he wanted to retire at forty. A commendable attitude in my view. As Oscar Wilde said: 'Work is the curse of the drinking classes.'

[baaaaadgoatjoke]

I am 24. American.

Btw, my post is not saying "out with the old, in with the new." There is no problem with them just is there is no problem with me. Just differences.

[Niamh]

I have many older people below me in work and although at first, when i started in the role i'm five and a half years ago, i found it difficult, but as the years have past i've come to appreciate the work ethic of the older staff. Many of them still work as hard as they probably did when they were my age. The problem i have, is the younger staff, the ones fresh out of school who think a job is just were they go to get money, and not to work. Its like , somewhere between my age group and the early twenties late teens, some big line of laziness was drawn and everyone on the younger side think everything should be done for them, and everyone on the older side are still of the mind that, you have to work hard for your money as there are plenty others that could have your job

[MANICHAEAN]

Dear Niamh
Thank you for the maturity of your approach on this issue. Its encouraging that the torch of balanced judgement can be passed across to individuals like yourself.

Regards
M.

[soundofmusic]

I can't really speak for others my age; I like my young co-workers and compliment them on their intelligence. I think they like me also.

I do find it very difficult to "get on" in life nowadays; all of the experience I have, all the lessons I have learned are no longer applicable in this new age. It wouldn't be so bad if the "new ways" were more efficient; but they are not.
On the old computers at the library, I could find information in a moment; now I look through a bunch of similar, but wrong analogies, words...I look for the pope and find every Paul, every JOhn, every German.
My bank takes my money in a flash; but it takes weeks to return it...

Yes, I want to go back...

On top of this, it takes me twice as long to learn the new, screwed up systems; particularly since I feel very resistant to learn them...

I thought I resented my boss who was younger and less experienced than I was until they hired someone my own age...a cheerleader with saggy flesh:hurray::hurray::hurray:

[dafydd manton]

Of course, one interesting conundrum is that when we were young, we judged the older people in the workplace, but we only has the experience of being young and inexperienced. Now we have the memory of being young and the experience of being older. I rather suspect that when I was in my early 20s, older collegaues might have thought I was a bit brash and arrogant.

[baaaaadgoatjoke]

Dear Niamh
Thank you for the maturity of your approach on this issue. Its encouraging that the torch of balanced judgement can be passed across to individuals like yourself.

Regards
M.

Maybe I underestimated the level of bitterness in some of the old folks. :P