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“You Need To Learn How To Work With Young People”: Woman Points Out Older Managers Mishandling Gen Z
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“You Need To Learn How To Work With Young People”: Woman Points Out Older Managers Mishandling Gen Z

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The younger generation of workers seems to be under a lot of pressure to prove their worth and earn their rightful place in the workforce. However, having to go through the leadership of older generations isn’t really making it easier, as ‘fragile’ Gen Z workers aren’t coping well with Gen X management encouraging them to ‘toughen up.’

Recently, a millennial and Sunshine Coast local businesswoman, Rachel Lynch, made a TikTok about it, sharing how on two separate occasions she witnessed Gen Z employees in tears after their Gen X bosses yelled at them for making a mistake. Supporting the younger workers, she said older managers need to learn how to work better with them, as shouting at these kids isn’t going to solve the problem.

Scroll down to find the full story and a conversation with its author, Rachel, who kindly agreed to answer a few questions about it.

Younger workers aren’t coping well under the leadership of older generations

Image credits: thirtynotthriving

This woman made a video saying she saw Gen Z workers crying because of their Gen X bosses

“This has happened two times now. I’ve just witnessed such a crazy display of Gen X not working well with Gen Z. It just is like f****** not working. So I live on the sunny coast and, I don’t know, I’ve had this experience two times now in the last few months. And I don’t know whether it’s a sunny coast thing or if it’s like a generational thing. But hear me out.”

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Image credits: Tim Douglas / Pexels (not the actual photo)

“I just went and got this baguette with ham and cheese. My order was taken by a young girl. She was probably like, I don’t know, 16, 17, maybe 18. I don’t know, couldn’t really tell. I could tell she was young. She didn’t seem very confident. So I was just like, you know, ‘Take your time. I’m in no rush. You do you.’ So she puts my order through and fumbled a bit. I think this is probably going to go one of two ways. It’s either going to come out perfect or it’s going to come out completely wrong. 15 minutes pass. Okay, all I ordered was a sandwich. 15 minutes pass and I hear her speaking to some other people at the restaurant just saying like, ‘Oh, wait, what was your order again? I forgot.’ And I was like, okay, she’s definitely forgotten my order. That’s fine. But then she goes inside and she tells her boss that she’s already forgotten the order that she’s taken outside. And then the door closes, like that’s going to help. It’s literally like an old Queenslander building. We can hear everything.”

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Image credits: LightFieldStudios / Envato Elements (not the actual photo)

“And then he starts yelling at her saying, ‘You can’t just keep forgetting orders. Like, you can’t do this.’ He’s yelling. She’s panicking, obviously. She starts crying. Oh, my God. Nobody’s technically in the wrong, it’s just that she’s obviously forgotten the order and she’s obviously gotten a little bit frazzled. And then he’s… It’s not like he was being aggressive. He was just obviously quite frustrated. Could he have handled it differently? Absolutely. Would I ever yell at somebody? No. Or at my staff? Absolutely not. But both, you know, are in their right to say something. But then she starts crying and he’s like, ‘It’s okay. It’s okay, it’s okay. Like, you know, whatever, we’ll figure it out.’ And I’m just seeing…”

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Image credits: Ketut Subiyanto / Pexels (not the actual photo)

“This happened to me a couple of months ago at another cafe where the young kid was crying and really panicking, really, really panicking,  hyperventilating almost, because she’s f***** up the orders and then the owner, who is definitely Gen X or Boomer, is quite vocal in their outrage, not in an aggressive way like he wanted to step in, but in a way that was loud enough that everybody in the restaurant can hear. So yeah, it’s just like this intense relationship between older managers and business owners and their younger staff. And you’re hiring young staff because you don’t want to pay much which I get that, business is tough.”

Image credits: thirtynotthriving

“But you need to learn how to work with younger people, especially different generations. Gen Z is more soft, they’re more fragile. They want to work more collaboratively, they… just like whatever, and you can’t just f****** yell at them, that’s not… that isn’t going to help them. You shouldn’t yell at anybody, that isn’t going to help anybody. I think when a Gen X yells at a Gen X… I mean, I don’t know maybe back in the workforce when a Gen X yelled at a Gen X, they’d just pull up their socks and just get on with it like, ‘Well, I’ll f*****g show them. I’m gonna work the hardest I’ve ever worked.’

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The youngest generation in the workforce right now. I think they’re just like heartbroken, like, ‘This is too much, l don’t know, I just cannot f*****g handle this.’ It’s just a sandwich. But anyway, I got my sandwich. Was it worth the 30-minute wait? Absolutely not. But that says more about the restaurant than the young girl crying. Anyway, I think just people need to learn how to work with each other better and have a great day.”

Image credits: charlesdeluvio / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

“It’s pretty simple. No yelling. No aggression”

As a member of the younger generation and a business co-owner, Rachel knows how it feels to be in both the younger workers and the manager‘s shoes. Experience with developing an online coffee company for outdoorsy people, “Dog and Gun Coffee,” and having to manage people in her day-to-day allows her to talk about generational differences in the workplace from an informed point of view. 

Rachel tells Bored Panda that their team is made of young people. “We know them very personally and check in with them regularly to see how they’re feeling, how home life is going, and if there’s anything they want improved/changed at work. This way, we catch issues before they turn into mistakes.”

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But when an error accidentally happens, they try to talk about it and get the staff member’s perspective on it as well as provide their own. Then they bring it all back to what they value as a business. “It’s pretty simple. No yelling. No aggression,” she says. “We also try to find roles that best suit our staff’s natural abilities to set them up to succeed. We’ll move them around until we’ve found what they’re really good at,” adds Rachel. 

On the other hand, if the young workers are treated like she recalled in her video, she says it’s not exactly encouraging Gen Z employees to consider more traditional jobs, as it means they’ll have to work with the older generation, who has no patience for them. 

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Image credits: Christin Hume / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

“Focus on a fun culture in the workplace so different generations can see the human in each other”

“It makes sense that a lot of Gen Z’s are turning to less conventional work, one-off gigs, and also online roles because it aligns more with their values, where you can work independently, have more balance, and not get yelled at. It’s reinforcing that work is [horrible],” she says.

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To encourage healthier collaboration between older and younger workers, Rachel suggests that older generations take on the responsibility. “Older managers in particular need to be more self-aware and tolerant and also put in the effort to understand Gen Z so they can use their skills and their generation’s abilities to their advantage,” she explains.

As an example, she proposes to stop expecting younger employees who grew up on the internet to be extremely confident with customers. Instead, they could unlock their potential by getting them to do a cafe’s social media and behind-the-scenes content to drive up business and sales. 

“Focus on a fun culture in the workplace so different generations can see the human in each other instead of just the work colleague,” she adds. “We organize regular camping and 4×4 day trips with our team so we can experience the best sides of each other,” mentions Rachel as an idea of how to uplift the work environment. 

Her video received mixed reactions

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Austeja Zokaite

Austeja Zokaite

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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Hi, glad you swung by! My name is Austėja, and I’m a writer at Bored Panda. With a degree in English philology, I’m interested in all aspects of language. Being fresh out of university, my mission is to master the art of writing and add my unique touch to every personal story and uplifting article we publish. In my time here, I’ve covered some fun topics such as scrungy cats and pareidolia, as well as more serious ones about mental health and relationship hiccups. When I’m not on my laptop, you’ll probably find me devouring pastries, especially croissants, paired with a soothing cup of tea. Sunsets, the sea, and swimming are some of my favorite things.

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Austeja Zokaite

Austeja Zokaite

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Hi, glad you swung by! My name is Austėja, and I’m a writer at Bored Panda. With a degree in English philology, I’m interested in all aspects of language. Being fresh out of university, my mission is to master the art of writing and add my unique touch to every personal story and uplifting article we publish. In my time here, I’ve covered some fun topics such as scrungy cats and pareidolia, as well as more serious ones about mental health and relationship hiccups. When I’m not on my laptop, you’ll probably find me devouring pastries, especially croissants, paired with a soothing cup of tea. Sunsets, the sea, and swimming are some of my favorite things.

Rugilė Žemaitytė

Rugilė Žemaitytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

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As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, my favorite part of the job involves browsing the web for the cutest cat pics, the funniest memes and eye-catching illustrations to brighten up your day!

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Rugilė Žemaitytė

Rugilė Žemaitytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, my favorite part of the job involves browsing the web for the cutest cat pics, the funniest memes and eye-catching illustrations to brighten up your day!

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Trillian
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well I am Gen X and the thought of having to work with a 17 (!) year old who can't remember a simple order and starts crying right away does set me on edge a bit. Yelling is not okay but this sounds a bit like this wasn't the first time she forgot something.

whineygingercat
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even more fun being the Gen X manager of the fluffy bunny Gen Z workers who, when you won't let them sit around playing on their phones all shift, the Gen Z call the ethics reporting holiness and report you for being 'mean.'

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Jack Burton
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Work in hospital with a lot of co workers, huge team with people between 20 and 65, i can't say if there is anything with youngsters or oldies... There are jerks in both, there are good people in both.

Alina Mihai
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, she experienced the same thing twice so it must be a general thing. FFS

CanadianDimes
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was my thought too! I've seen lots of things happen twice; that must mean they are universal.

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SirWriteALot
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't read this post but we need to stop this "us against them" thinking. I get the feeling, we're always out to be in some kind of "group" and we need to prove that our "group" is better than the other "group". Politics. Age. Food. Religion. Car. Phone. Operating System ... why are we so bent on focusing on our differences?

Debbie
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with the resilience, but also, how can you forget orders again?? If I'd forget orders several times, I'd make sure I wouldn't forget it next time, it's my JOB to pass orders through to the kitchen. So I'll ask for a notepad and pen, and start writing it down. If I'd be working with someone whose job is to pass orders and keeps forgetting them, I'd be frustrated as well. The yelling is unneccesary, but letting frustration bottle up and the gentle gloves method doesn't always work.

Kare Deter
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Critical thinking and problem solving. The phone/social media generation doesn't really possess either skill. I (gen x) have been yelled at on the job before - NEVER for the same mistake repeated. I may have cried at one (he was a total jerk to me) but I got over it, improved and went on with my life. I can recall one time I was dining out with my family and the diner manager tore into one of the waitresses so bad I and my husband had a go at HIM on professionalism and literally emptying the place out with his BS. I don't know if he ever improved, we never went back. That was just too uncomfortable.

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Alex Martin
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish the millenials would stop trying to draw the X'ers into their generational wars. We're very comfortable being ignored and would like you to keep on doing that. Also, we don't care.

Alex Martin
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gen Xer here. I was a clueless idiot at 16 when I had my first job and I 100% know that I exasperated my managers on occasion. I learned and got better. I've hired a bunch of Z kids, they need to have things explained to them and sometimes I need to help them problem solve and do trial and error until we find a system that works for them. I do the same thing for the millenials, xers, and boomers I hire. With younger workers they need coaching with skills that include things like office decorum, time management, efficiency, and problem solving. It's often their first job and those skills don't come naturally.

ChickyChicky
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you for being reasonable. My goodness. Gen X forgetting they were called the "slacker generation" with no work ethic, motivation, etc. Millenials forgetting all the trash thrown at them for having no work ethic, motivation, etc. Boomers forgetting about being hippies with no work ethic, motivation, etc. Guess what Gen Z will be saying in 20 years about the younger kids?

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FreeTheUnicorn
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This doesn't seem generational. A lot will depend on how many times this employee has already done this. We've all had jerk bosses, that's not generational. But most of us if any generation have had employees who just won't follow instructions, and getting frustrated with that is common from anyone if any age. It is exacerbated today because of low wages and cost cutting measures, fewer people one shift, shorter training, etc.

lenka
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The stupidist thing is the OP doesnt even know if they are genx or boomer. They are yelling in the back room. She cant see them, she says the manager "...who is definitely Gen X or Boomer.".

KatSaidWhat
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh do foxtrot, sweetheart - first example clearly not server's first rodeo in forgetting orders. WRITE THEM DOWN. Not that hard. We all have limits and she is literally affecting business. I too would reach screech point. NFI on second, not enough information. NOT GENERATIONAL, S**T CUSTOMER SERVICE.

Verena
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is a great difference if that person is 16 or 18, to begin with. Secondly, we don't know how often that happened, but it already hapoened several times before. Thirdly, she ignored her inability to remenber orders by head and did not come up with a solution preventing that. Fourth, if customers leaves frustrated, no money can be earned and the goids go to waste. Six, if customers place negative reviews on SM about bad service, this endangers the business. Most customers have no patience and love to place tiny rages on SM. If you realise a job is asking more from you than you can cope with, either look for a different job or train yourself to do better. Or start your own business, if you know better.

Sue User
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It should not be solely on the worker to come up with a solution to the problem. The managers job is to lead. To come up with a process that succeeds with he resources at hand. It is also on the business to train the worker not the worker to train themselves. Sound like the first business had a lousy system , relying on someones memory and a lousy boss who first response is to yell. I dont care if the worker is the biggest effup, the manager needs to teach proffessionalism by modeling proffessionalism. Genx here who was a manager of several restaurants before.

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Mariaf
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The problem with GenZ is that it's impossible to give them any kind of negative feedback. They are just not used to it. They've been raised into the world where they are always right about everything and if they get the most minor criticism they just break down and turn on the waterworks. And it's not even their fault. Understanding criticism and taking the positive/build up part of it need to be taught. It doesn't come as a standard package from birth. Alas their parents and their societal upbringing has robbed them of that. Yes, they are more accepting of others differences and they are more likely to show emotional connections, but that has been taken too far. It all has to be wrapped in shiny positive feelings or they get paralized into inaction.

Anony Mouse
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Boring tiktok? Check. Fake generation war outrage? Check. Congrats BP. You're buzzfeed now. Enjoy putting out more trash.

clairebear
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am GenX, I think Gen Z are a super bunch of people. They seem more accepting of people. Different sexualities, genders, body shapes, races, ages, fashion styles etc, it is lovely. They seem a kinder generation. Anyway, no one should be shouted at, at all, no matter what their age.

FreeTheUnicorn
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Older people are more likely to be managers of you get people. Some managers are going to be short, young employees may get flustered. This isn't about cultural differences this is just age and the result of low wage/cost-cutting. This could have been an observation made 20 or 40 years ago. I'm sure it'll be true in another generation.

Dani
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Laziness and incompetence are not a generational thing. Some people are good workers, some aren't. Some will advance, and some won't.

Kare Deter
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Young employees need to be taught how to be GOOD employees. For most, this is their first work experience. Work skills aren't something that comes natural. Poor training results in poor employees - no one's fault but the manager's.

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Verena
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So there should work only people in one company which differ +/- 5 years in age?

Trev Fontaine
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely stupid. Theres no difference in people of any age.

Kathy Richardson
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gen X here and was in management for almost 20 years. I can say that there are huge differences in how each generation was raised and it shows in how they react in different situations. I have to say, the current generation has been coddled a little too much and so are not equipped mentally or emotionally to deal with "real life". No, yelling isn't the answer, but it is easy to understand when you have a young employee unable to do the simplest task. Sorry, but my kids could have performed taking an order and making a sandwich at age 5.

Papa
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's definitely not a generational thing. The person who wrote this seems to have overlooked the simple fact that supervisors are often older than their employees. Some supervisors are just jerks, or not good at managing people. I've been working for 50 years, and never been yelled at while on the job.

StrangeOne
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the first time watching the video was worse than reading the article. Is she new to the workforce, or has she been in the workforce so long she's forgotten how it feels to be a teenager or young adult trying to get the hang of being at work. School really doesn't prepare you for working at someone else's business. School doesn't build confidence like finally excelling at work after being yelled at. This lady couldn't tell the difference between an older Millennial and a Boomer. That's a couple to a few decades of age difference. There's no difference in generations, just people with different lifestyle choices, opportunity chances, values, places in life and attitudes.

Aroace tiger (she/they/he)
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shouting at the kid for a clear lack of experience is horrible let people make mistakes. This is y im scared of getting a job.

Auntriarch
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its not unheard of unfortunately. But if you've not been given full instructions, no one has any business shouting at you. Chin up though, Auntriarch is perching in your shoulder

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Cuppa tea?
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Gen X and I totally cannot stand anyone yelling or raising voice on me. It puts me or genocidal warpath, summoning Godzilla and Cthulhu.

LaserBrain
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a boss and a manager, I have learned over time that you have to give people space to let them make mistakes, that's how we learn, and people can flourish when they learn. One of my favourite remarks about leadership comes from a Night at the Museum movie (of all things). Owen Wilson says, "A good leader takes care of his people."

DetriMentaL
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whelp.. Guess that lady got her soap box moment, ain't no turning back now

Rayne OfSalt
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dunno. I'm GenX and work with quite a few GenZ kids. They're all pretty solid, as long as you treat them like you would a regular person (and not, as many managers do, like naughty children at school). It's the younger millenials (the sub-35yo ones) who cause a lot of disruption and breaks in the workflow here. They're pampered, coddled, self-proclaimed victims with the resilience of wet toilet paper.

Red Skye
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't care what generation such bosses come from YELLING is NEVER ok, not that I can't understand the urge to do it, their under tough business conditions, facing possible bankruptcy at every corner, and their young employees, keep screwing up, so instead of doing the RIGHT THING, and calmly telling the kid to WRITE things down if they can't remember orders, all their frustration with the 'I'm loosing money here and might lose my business' situation comes out as yelling. NOT RIGHT, but understandable. and its NOT a generational thing, its a Businesses have their backs to the wall and lots of frustration thing.

notlikeyou1971
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a few things I can say about this topic. Yelling at anyone no matter the age may not and will not get the results you want. I can't stand ppl who raise their voice at me. Im Gen X and that doesn't fly. Even in my home that doesn't work. I've told ppl raising your voice at me isn't going to get you what you want. I will either yell back, walk away,or shut down because I grew up with a bully for a father and never got past it. That's my 1st opinion. My 2nd is that it all started with those darn " participation trophies" . Kids never learned how to lose or how to fail. It should have been taught like we were. If you lose or fail you should remember that it's okay and that you should try to do better next time. The most recent 2 generations were coddled and catered to and everyone rushed to solve their problems for them instead of teaching them properly how to solve problems themselves. Also these days it really annoys me to no end that feelings are the most important thing to ppl. If you're offended or your feelings get hurt everyone rushed out to just cater to whomever is hurt or offended. Tv show or book hurts you

Shaunn Munn
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Boomer here. Whatever happened to writing orders on a ticket, checking that they got it right, taking the ticket to whoever prepares orders, and bringing the ticket to the table with the order? I don't get why so many waitpeople are expected to memorize orders. They're not computers. I know this is a trick of fancy restaurants (which still doesn't make it a good idea) but stop making waitstaff's jobs harder. The purpose is to serve customers, not act hoity-toity. And don't get on me about people needing to learn to memorize more stuff. The purpose is to serve customers. Eyes on the prize!

Atom Bohr
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I work with a lot of young people and while most don't fall into this category, a significant chunk of them are utterly incapable of handling stress, conflict, unfamiliar situations, the (reasonable) expectations of others... I'm very much in support of raising a more sensitive generation, but there needs to be a degree of "toughening up", too. I don't mean they should tolerate abuse in the workplace or anything, but they should be able to handle the "pressures" of working in a café without being overwhelmed. Raising and teaching with kindness and compassion is important, but if we're sheltering them to the point they can't deal with day-to-day life we're doing them a disservice.

doredde
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whoever screams has already lost. If you can´t channel your feelings other than to ventilate, it´s a YOU problem. Jerks are walking on this planet from age 0 - 120 or what. Apart from that we don´t know the background of the whole story. And me (generation X) remember very well my first job next to going to University. I was quite shy(working in retail) and had to learn how to talk loud enough, how to develop a technique to remember and structure my tasks and so on.. I had a very nice older co-worker who guided me with a strong, but gentle hand and SHOWED me how to do my job, instead of TELLING. Even "boomers" and "GenX" were young once and had to do things for the first time. If you were yelled at and did not learn to change that toxic behaviour better than to adopt it, not good!

Ionescu Popa
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it's the opposite - gen z are born standing, look at beckham's daughter. the op looks a typical disinformation spreader, the kind of matron of professional combinations and evil projects.

Ash
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wouldn't say Gen-Z is "softer" - that seems to imply lack of backbone, a moral failing. I would say Gen-Z is "more fragile". It's a trauma response, tbh, to growing up in a world of social media, intense scrutiny, perfectionism, purity culture, pandemic, economci recession, etc that older generations don't fully understand because we didn't experience those things at that age. It's not the kids' fault they're fragile. They're fragile because they've been broken by circumstances and other people so many times, through no fault of their own.

Ethan Hunt
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aggressively and loudly berating your employee in front of everyone is not an appropriate approach for managing your staff, period. Regardless of the position or age of the worker and manager. I don't care if it's a coffee shop or a corporate setting. Young workers need to develop a work ethnic if they expect to participate in the work force. A manager needs to implement a system of training and expectations that are clearly communicated and also have a system for dealing with workers who don't meet the expectation.

nancy
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Gen X and worked lots of retail positions as a teen... definitely cried when a boss yelled at me. That's a normal reaction. It has nothing to do with their generation. It has more to do with her age and a manager that didn't set this girl up to do her job properly. She clearly needs access to pen and paper to write down orders. This article is cringe-worthy.

G R
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's missing from this "discourse" is that it's not Gen Z, it's specifically pampered white middle class Gen Z. I work with marginalised youth, I work a lot with Gen Z who grew up working class or in poverty, and they don't behave like that. I never see black kids pulling these stunts and switching on the waterworks. It's just spoilt white girls behaving like princesses because they know they'll get away with it.

Trillian
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well I am Gen X and the thought of having to work with a 17 (!) year old who can't remember a simple order and starts crying right away does set me on edge a bit. Yelling is not okay but this sounds a bit like this wasn't the first time she forgot something.

whineygingercat
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even more fun being the Gen X manager of the fluffy bunny Gen Z workers who, when you won't let them sit around playing on their phones all shift, the Gen Z call the ethics reporting holiness and report you for being 'mean.'

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Jack Burton
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Work in hospital with a lot of co workers, huge team with people between 20 and 65, i can't say if there is anything with youngsters or oldies... There are jerks in both, there are good people in both.

Alina Mihai
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, she experienced the same thing twice so it must be a general thing. FFS

CanadianDimes
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was my thought too! I've seen lots of things happen twice; that must mean they are universal.

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SirWriteALot
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't read this post but we need to stop this "us against them" thinking. I get the feeling, we're always out to be in some kind of "group" and we need to prove that our "group" is better than the other "group". Politics. Age. Food. Religion. Car. Phone. Operating System ... why are we so bent on focusing on our differences?

Debbie
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with the resilience, but also, how can you forget orders again?? If I'd forget orders several times, I'd make sure I wouldn't forget it next time, it's my JOB to pass orders through to the kitchen. So I'll ask for a notepad and pen, and start writing it down. If I'd be working with someone whose job is to pass orders and keeps forgetting them, I'd be frustrated as well. The yelling is unneccesary, but letting frustration bottle up and the gentle gloves method doesn't always work.

Kare Deter
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Critical thinking and problem solving. The phone/social media generation doesn't really possess either skill. I (gen x) have been yelled at on the job before - NEVER for the same mistake repeated. I may have cried at one (he was a total jerk to me) but I got over it, improved and went on with my life. I can recall one time I was dining out with my family and the diner manager tore into one of the waitresses so bad I and my husband had a go at HIM on professionalism and literally emptying the place out with his BS. I don't know if he ever improved, we never went back. That was just too uncomfortable.

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Alex Martin
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish the millenials would stop trying to draw the X'ers into their generational wars. We're very comfortable being ignored and would like you to keep on doing that. Also, we don't care.

Alex Martin
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gen Xer here. I was a clueless idiot at 16 when I had my first job and I 100% know that I exasperated my managers on occasion. I learned and got better. I've hired a bunch of Z kids, they need to have things explained to them and sometimes I need to help them problem solve and do trial and error until we find a system that works for them. I do the same thing for the millenials, xers, and boomers I hire. With younger workers they need coaching with skills that include things like office decorum, time management, efficiency, and problem solving. It's often their first job and those skills don't come naturally.

ChickyChicky
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you for being reasonable. My goodness. Gen X forgetting they were called the "slacker generation" with no work ethic, motivation, etc. Millenials forgetting all the trash thrown at them for having no work ethic, motivation, etc. Boomers forgetting about being hippies with no work ethic, motivation, etc. Guess what Gen Z will be saying in 20 years about the younger kids?

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FreeTheUnicorn
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This doesn't seem generational. A lot will depend on how many times this employee has already done this. We've all had jerk bosses, that's not generational. But most of us if any generation have had employees who just won't follow instructions, and getting frustrated with that is common from anyone if any age. It is exacerbated today because of low wages and cost cutting measures, fewer people one shift, shorter training, etc.

lenka
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The stupidist thing is the OP doesnt even know if they are genx or boomer. They are yelling in the back room. She cant see them, she says the manager "...who is definitely Gen X or Boomer.".

KatSaidWhat
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh do foxtrot, sweetheart - first example clearly not server's first rodeo in forgetting orders. WRITE THEM DOWN. Not that hard. We all have limits and she is literally affecting business. I too would reach screech point. NFI on second, not enough information. NOT GENERATIONAL, S**T CUSTOMER SERVICE.

Verena
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is a great difference if that person is 16 or 18, to begin with. Secondly, we don't know how often that happened, but it already hapoened several times before. Thirdly, she ignored her inability to remenber orders by head and did not come up with a solution preventing that. Fourth, if customers leaves frustrated, no money can be earned and the goids go to waste. Six, if customers place negative reviews on SM about bad service, this endangers the business. Most customers have no patience and love to place tiny rages on SM. If you realise a job is asking more from you than you can cope with, either look for a different job or train yourself to do better. Or start your own business, if you know better.

Sue User
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It should not be solely on the worker to come up with a solution to the problem. The managers job is to lead. To come up with a process that succeeds with he resources at hand. It is also on the business to train the worker not the worker to train themselves. Sound like the first business had a lousy system , relying on someones memory and a lousy boss who first response is to yell. I dont care if the worker is the biggest effup, the manager needs to teach proffessionalism by modeling proffessionalism. Genx here who was a manager of several restaurants before.

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Mariaf
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The problem with GenZ is that it's impossible to give them any kind of negative feedback. They are just not used to it. They've been raised into the world where they are always right about everything and if they get the most minor criticism they just break down and turn on the waterworks. And it's not even their fault. Understanding criticism and taking the positive/build up part of it need to be taught. It doesn't come as a standard package from birth. Alas their parents and their societal upbringing has robbed them of that. Yes, they are more accepting of others differences and they are more likely to show emotional connections, but that has been taken too far. It all has to be wrapped in shiny positive feelings or they get paralized into inaction.

Anony Mouse
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Boring tiktok? Check. Fake generation war outrage? Check. Congrats BP. You're buzzfeed now. Enjoy putting out more trash.

clairebear
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am GenX, I think Gen Z are a super bunch of people. They seem more accepting of people. Different sexualities, genders, body shapes, races, ages, fashion styles etc, it is lovely. They seem a kinder generation. Anyway, no one should be shouted at, at all, no matter what their age.

FreeTheUnicorn
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Older people are more likely to be managers of you get people. Some managers are going to be short, young employees may get flustered. This isn't about cultural differences this is just age and the result of low wage/cost-cutting. This could have been an observation made 20 or 40 years ago. I'm sure it'll be true in another generation.

Dani
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Laziness and incompetence are not a generational thing. Some people are good workers, some aren't. Some will advance, and some won't.

Kare Deter
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Young employees need to be taught how to be GOOD employees. For most, this is their first work experience. Work skills aren't something that comes natural. Poor training results in poor employees - no one's fault but the manager's.

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Verena
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So there should work only people in one company which differ +/- 5 years in age?

Trev Fontaine
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely stupid. Theres no difference in people of any age.

Kathy Richardson
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gen X here and was in management for almost 20 years. I can say that there are huge differences in how each generation was raised and it shows in how they react in different situations. I have to say, the current generation has been coddled a little too much and so are not equipped mentally or emotionally to deal with "real life". No, yelling isn't the answer, but it is easy to understand when you have a young employee unable to do the simplest task. Sorry, but my kids could have performed taking an order and making a sandwich at age 5.

Papa
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's definitely not a generational thing. The person who wrote this seems to have overlooked the simple fact that supervisors are often older than their employees. Some supervisors are just jerks, or not good at managing people. I've been working for 50 years, and never been yelled at while on the job.

StrangeOne
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the first time watching the video was worse than reading the article. Is she new to the workforce, or has she been in the workforce so long she's forgotten how it feels to be a teenager or young adult trying to get the hang of being at work. School really doesn't prepare you for working at someone else's business. School doesn't build confidence like finally excelling at work after being yelled at. This lady couldn't tell the difference between an older Millennial and a Boomer. That's a couple to a few decades of age difference. There's no difference in generations, just people with different lifestyle choices, opportunity chances, values, places in life and attitudes.

Aroace tiger (she/they/he)
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shouting at the kid for a clear lack of experience is horrible let people make mistakes. This is y im scared of getting a job.

Auntriarch
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its not unheard of unfortunately. But if you've not been given full instructions, no one has any business shouting at you. Chin up though, Auntriarch is perching in your shoulder

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Cuppa tea?
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Gen X and I totally cannot stand anyone yelling or raising voice on me. It puts me or genocidal warpath, summoning Godzilla and Cthulhu.

LaserBrain
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a boss and a manager, I have learned over time that you have to give people space to let them make mistakes, that's how we learn, and people can flourish when they learn. One of my favourite remarks about leadership comes from a Night at the Museum movie (of all things). Owen Wilson says, "A good leader takes care of his people."

DetriMentaL
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whelp.. Guess that lady got her soap box moment, ain't no turning back now

Rayne OfSalt
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dunno. I'm GenX and work with quite a few GenZ kids. They're all pretty solid, as long as you treat them like you would a regular person (and not, as many managers do, like naughty children at school). It's the younger millenials (the sub-35yo ones) who cause a lot of disruption and breaks in the workflow here. They're pampered, coddled, self-proclaimed victims with the resilience of wet toilet paper.

Red Skye
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't care what generation such bosses come from YELLING is NEVER ok, not that I can't understand the urge to do it, their under tough business conditions, facing possible bankruptcy at every corner, and their young employees, keep screwing up, so instead of doing the RIGHT THING, and calmly telling the kid to WRITE things down if they can't remember orders, all their frustration with the 'I'm loosing money here and might lose my business' situation comes out as yelling. NOT RIGHT, but understandable. and its NOT a generational thing, its a Businesses have their backs to the wall and lots of frustration thing.

notlikeyou1971
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a few things I can say about this topic. Yelling at anyone no matter the age may not and will not get the results you want. I can't stand ppl who raise their voice at me. Im Gen X and that doesn't fly. Even in my home that doesn't work. I've told ppl raising your voice at me isn't going to get you what you want. I will either yell back, walk away,or shut down because I grew up with a bully for a father and never got past it. That's my 1st opinion. My 2nd is that it all started with those darn " participation trophies" . Kids never learned how to lose or how to fail. It should have been taught like we were. If you lose or fail you should remember that it's okay and that you should try to do better next time. The most recent 2 generations were coddled and catered to and everyone rushed to solve their problems for them instead of teaching them properly how to solve problems themselves. Also these days it really annoys me to no end that feelings are the most important thing to ppl. If you're offended or your feelings get hurt everyone rushed out to just cater to whomever is hurt or offended. Tv show or book hurts you

Shaunn Munn
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Boomer here. Whatever happened to writing orders on a ticket, checking that they got it right, taking the ticket to whoever prepares orders, and bringing the ticket to the table with the order? I don't get why so many waitpeople are expected to memorize orders. They're not computers. I know this is a trick of fancy restaurants (which still doesn't make it a good idea) but stop making waitstaff's jobs harder. The purpose is to serve customers, not act hoity-toity. And don't get on me about people needing to learn to memorize more stuff. The purpose is to serve customers. Eyes on the prize!

Atom Bohr
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I work with a lot of young people and while most don't fall into this category, a significant chunk of them are utterly incapable of handling stress, conflict, unfamiliar situations, the (reasonable) expectations of others... I'm very much in support of raising a more sensitive generation, but there needs to be a degree of "toughening up", too. I don't mean they should tolerate abuse in the workplace or anything, but they should be able to handle the "pressures" of working in a café without being overwhelmed. Raising and teaching with kindness and compassion is important, but if we're sheltering them to the point they can't deal with day-to-day life we're doing them a disservice.

doredde
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whoever screams has already lost. If you can´t channel your feelings other than to ventilate, it´s a YOU problem. Jerks are walking on this planet from age 0 - 120 or what. Apart from that we don´t know the background of the whole story. And me (generation X) remember very well my first job next to going to University. I was quite shy(working in retail) and had to learn how to talk loud enough, how to develop a technique to remember and structure my tasks and so on.. I had a very nice older co-worker who guided me with a strong, but gentle hand and SHOWED me how to do my job, instead of TELLING. Even "boomers" and "GenX" were young once and had to do things for the first time. If you were yelled at and did not learn to change that toxic behaviour better than to adopt it, not good!

Ionescu Popa
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it's the opposite - gen z are born standing, look at beckham's daughter. the op looks a typical disinformation spreader, the kind of matron of professional combinations and evil projects.

Ash
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wouldn't say Gen-Z is "softer" - that seems to imply lack of backbone, a moral failing. I would say Gen-Z is "more fragile". It's a trauma response, tbh, to growing up in a world of social media, intense scrutiny, perfectionism, purity culture, pandemic, economci recession, etc that older generations don't fully understand because we didn't experience those things at that age. It's not the kids' fault they're fragile. They're fragile because they've been broken by circumstances and other people so many times, through no fault of their own.

Ethan Hunt
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aggressively and loudly berating your employee in front of everyone is not an appropriate approach for managing your staff, period. Regardless of the position or age of the worker and manager. I don't care if it's a coffee shop or a corporate setting. Young workers need to develop a work ethnic if they expect to participate in the work force. A manager needs to implement a system of training and expectations that are clearly communicated and also have a system for dealing with workers who don't meet the expectation.

nancy
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Gen X and worked lots of retail positions as a teen... definitely cried when a boss yelled at me. That's a normal reaction. It has nothing to do with their generation. It has more to do with her age and a manager that didn't set this girl up to do her job properly. She clearly needs access to pen and paper to write down orders. This article is cringe-worthy.

G R
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's missing from this "discourse" is that it's not Gen Z, it's specifically pampered white middle class Gen Z. I work with marginalised youth, I work a lot with Gen Z who grew up working class or in poverty, and they don't behave like that. I never see black kids pulling these stunts and switching on the waterworks. It's just spoilt white girls behaving like princesses because they know they'll get away with it.

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