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Age and age conflict in the workplace

(7 Posts)
CariGransnet (GNHQ) Mon 09-Mar-15 16:03:03

We've been asked to put together a piece on age and age conflict in the workplace - all aspects including how comfortable older workers are with being managed by younger Gen Y bosses. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks, Gigi and Cari

loopylou Mon 09-Mar-15 16:08:23

Does this actually happen?
I'm years older than many of my current colleagues and it isn't an issue for me, and I'm sure they'd tell me if it was for them.
I think many older workers have a strong work ethic and life experience which enhances rather than detracts from the workplace.

Leticia Mon 09-Mar-15 16:14:07

I can't see that it would be an issue. By the time I finished work everyone was younger than me- it wasn't an issue and I don't remember any giving any indication they were uncomfortable.
Now that I am volunteering I am older than the organisers- some being younger than my children. We are just work colleagues.

tanith Mon 09-Mar-15 16:23:27

As Leticia says by the time I retired everyone was younger including all the bosses.. I never had a problem with it and as far as I'm aware neither did they... It never bothered me that my immediate boss and most of the other bosses were younger some of them as has been said were younger than my children. I can't remember it being an area of conflict for anybody in fact I was often asked for advice by my very young colleagues.

The only thing I did find was how aware some of them were of my limitations, my job was sometimes very heavy physically and several of my colleagues whom I'd know for a long time and had become friends would take the heavier workload from me, which in my last couple of years working I was very grateful for. There were never any conflicts that I remember.

Coolgran65 Mon 09-Mar-15 17:01:41

Age never made any difference in my work in an office situation.

janeainsworth Mon 09-Mar-15 18:03:32

I think that in the small practice in which I worked, having a mixture of ages benefitted everyone.
There was less rivalry than there might otherwise have been, and both the older ones and the younger ones learned from the others' perspective about
problems both inside and outside the workplace.

Jane10 Mon 09-Mar-15 18:50:56

No age conflicts where I worked either. I enjoyed the company and perspectives of younger colleagues most of whom I'd look on as friends. The main boss was younger but very good at her job. I respected her greatly.