february 2010 NEWSLETTER




Engineers and Technical Professionals

With the downturn in the U.S. economy, workplaces are becoming more and more diverse age-wise. Older workers are working alongside younger workers as people at every stage in their career are getting laid off. With this generational gap among workers widening, there's a lot of potential for miscommunication or differing perspectives. To ease relations between older and younger workers, here are six things never to say to an older coworker and six things to never say to a younger coworker.

To an Older Coworker:

  • "Do you know how to use email?" - Older workers always get a bad rap for not being able to learn new tasks or technology. Yet there's really no evidence that says older people are really less likely to be able to learn new tricks than they are at any other time in their lives.
  • "I didn't realize you were that old!" - This comment might come from an initially innocuous and complimentary thought, as in, there's no way that person is that old - she looks so young! But saying this out loud or expressing shock at an older worker's age might well turn out to be extremely offensive to them.
  • "So are you planning to retire soon?" - Just because a coworker has gray hair doesn't mean they're going to retire tomorrow. In fact, many professionals enjoy working well past the age of 60 because their work gives them a sense of purpose.
  • "My grandpa gave me that same advice." - Your older coworker is not your grandpa. In fact, he might not even have grandchildren, which would make this comment especially irritating and offensive.
  • "You're going back to school?" - Contrary to popular belief, college isn't just for twenty-something-year-olds. With the economy in decline, more and more older people are choosing to go back to school to get a competitive advantage.
  • "There were some last-minute changes. Will that be too much to handle?" - People generally stereotype older workers as less adaptable and more resistant to change. They say that since older workers have seen more initiatives fail in the workplace, they're more likely to question change, but this isn't necessarily true.

To a Younger Coworker:

  • "Are you the new intern?" - Just because a newer coworker is younger doesn't necessarily mean he's the new intern. You were once a younger coworker too. Remember how intimidated you felt by all the experienced professionals in your first week?
  • "You sound just like my son/daughter." - This comment might seem harmless, but think about what you're saying. Your coworker is not your son or daughter, and comparing a Gen-Y or Millennial coworker to your child at home can certainly be insulting.
  • "How old are you?" - This question is a big "no-no" according to any company's HR policy, regardless if it's being asked to a younger or older coworker. Your coworkers' age, along with their race, creed, and sexual preference, is none of your business.
  • "Considering this is your first job, you probably wouldn't understand." - This statement is dangerous in that it assumes the following two things: 1) That this is your younger coworker's first job and 2) That your coworker would thus probably not understand.
  • "When I was your age " - Your younger coworker probably gets enough of this phrase from his parents, so do him a favor, and avoid bringing it up in the workplace. It's understandable that you want to help your younger counterparts out, but this is the wrong way to go about it.
  • "The real world doesn't work like that." - Gen-Y workers have the bad rep of acting entitled, spoiled all while having a bad work ethic, but you can't assume that all younger workers are this way. There are hardworking younger workers out there, and the ones you're working with must have stronger work ethics than most (I mean, they got the job, didn't they?)

Our Whitaker team is comprised of a mix of professionals spanning 3 generations. Our unique talents and strengths create a well-rounded team to assist our clients and candidates. In fact, in an effort to provide a more interactive experience with our team, we have created a Whitaker Technical Services LinkedIn group. As a part of our community all of our contacts can come together in one place to discuss industry topics, read the latest industry news, and review the newest career opportunities! We invite you to join and share your thoughts. You can add the new group at http://bit.ly/dlwNj5. Please note, you must have a linked-in profile in order to join.