My girlfriend sent me this email today, along with a note asking me if I would be a character witness if she had to stand trial for murder.
That told me she was having a ROUGH day on the job with her thirty-something "know-it-all" boss. I've been there---done that---and even wrote a book about it so I can feel her pain. What's a poor baby boomer to do when they have to put up with a boss who knows less but gets paid more?
In the meantime, here's the email she sent me:
PRISON
You spend most of your time in a 10X10 cell
WORK
You spend most of your time in a 6X6 cubicle
PRISON
You get three fully paid for meals a day
WORK
You get a break for one meal,and you have to pay for it
PRISON
For good behavior, you get time off
WORK
For good behavior, you get more work
PRISON
The guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you
WORK
You must carry a security card and open all the doors yourself
PRISON
You can watch TV and play games
WORK
You could get fired for watching TV and playing games
PRISON
You get your own toilet
WORK
You have to share the toilet with people who pee on the seat
PRISON
They allow your family and friends to visit
WORK
You aren't even supposed to make personal calls on the phone. And don't even think about sending an email!
PRISON
All expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required on your part
WORK
You must pay all your expenses to go to work, and they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners
PRISON
You spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out
WORK
You spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars
PRISON
You must deal with sadistic wardens
WORK
They are called 'managers'
Showing posts with label employers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label employers. Show all posts
Friday, August 15, 2008
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Hiring the LEAST qualified
Last year I was passed over for a promotion, which ended up being given to a woman nearly half my age. She became my boss. Although she was very physically attractive, she left much to be desired mentally. She constantly sought help from her subordinates who, because they were hot-blooded males, were more than happy to oblige. I, on the other hand, wasn’t into information sharing. I figured if she was getting paid double my salary to do what I had already been doing, then she needed to figure out on her own how to do her job.
What happened to me is indicative of what is happening to many of my fellow baby boomer buddies in the workplace today. We are being shoved aside for younger, but not necessarily brighter, employees. It’s a disturbing trend that is bound to make matters worse as businesses look for cheaper way to run their operations.
Corporate America must take some of the responsibility for pitting the young against the old. Many companies don't want to pay for experience. They would rather hire someone with the ability to do the job for less money than pay top dollar to a more experienced older employee. Some businesses aren't as interested in quality as they are in the bottom line: PROFIT.
Young people, eager to get a foot in the door, often times will accept less money and learn just enough to move on. What some businesses fail to realize is knowledge and years of experience go a long way in keeping them from making the same mistakes over and over again.
According to a researcher from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, potential employers are more likely to discriminate against older workers. Johanna Lahey sent out 4,000 resumes, of people between the ages of 35 and 62, to firms in Boston, MA and St. Petersburg, FL. Her findings indicated younger workers were 40 percent more likely to be called back for an interview than an older worker, defined as 50 years and older. Furthermore, she cited the top ten reasons why employers said OTHER employers might be reluctant to hire older workers:
1) Shorter career potential
2) Lack of energy
3) Cost of health and life insurance and pensions
4) Less flexible/adaptable
5) Higher salary expectations
6) Health risks/absences
7) Knowledge and skills obsolescence
8) Block career path of younger workers
9) Suspicion about competence
10) Fear of discrimination lawsuit
The truth of the matter is baby boomers are living longer and need to make ends meet just like their younger counterparts. Corporate America must be willing to recognize the pool of talented applicants no matter who old they are.
In case you’re wondering what ever happened with my younger boss…well, after I left the company, she decided she wanted to be a stay at home mom.
You can read more about this subject matter in my book: Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age.
What happened to me is indicative of what is happening to many of my fellow baby boomer buddies in the workplace today. We are being shoved aside for younger, but not necessarily brighter, employees. It’s a disturbing trend that is bound to make matters worse as businesses look for cheaper way to run their operations.
Corporate America must take some of the responsibility for pitting the young against the old. Many companies don't want to pay for experience. They would rather hire someone with the ability to do the job for less money than pay top dollar to a more experienced older employee. Some businesses aren't as interested in quality as they are in the bottom line: PROFIT.
Young people, eager to get a foot in the door, often times will accept less money and learn just enough to move on. What some businesses fail to realize is knowledge and years of experience go a long way in keeping them from making the same mistakes over and over again.
According to a researcher from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, potential employers are more likely to discriminate against older workers. Johanna Lahey sent out 4,000 resumes, of people between the ages of 35 and 62, to firms in Boston, MA and St. Petersburg, FL. Her findings indicated younger workers were 40 percent more likely to be called back for an interview than an older worker, defined as 50 years and older. Furthermore, she cited the top ten reasons why employers said OTHER employers might be reluctant to hire older workers:
1) Shorter career potential
2) Lack of energy
3) Cost of health and life insurance and pensions
4) Less flexible/adaptable
5) Higher salary expectations
6) Health risks/absences
7) Knowledge and skills obsolescence
8) Block career path of younger workers
9) Suspicion about competence
10) Fear of discrimination lawsuit
The truth of the matter is baby boomers are living longer and need to make ends meet just like their younger counterparts. Corporate America must be willing to recognize the pool of talented applicants no matter who old they are.
In case you’re wondering what ever happened with my younger boss…well, after I left the company, she decided she wanted to be a stay at home mom.
You can read more about this subject matter in my book: Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age.
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