Do you mind if your supervisor or boss is younger than you?

Irishguy16

it bothered me a little bit in my last job, as my supervisor was 4 years younger than me. Even though I was better qualified, she still ran the show, mostly due to the fact that she was working there longer.it took a while to getting used to, she was 21, I was 25, and it became annoying after a while, particularly when she had her weaknesses, she could cover them up based on her position. I didn't like it, but there was nothing that I could do at the time.

Do you think that age is a problem,particularly when it comes to management positions? Do you think that there is a lack of responsibility involved with a younger supervisor?

efb

No. At the moment they are not. They are 10 years + older tho

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Not in the slightest. At one point I was much younger than the staff reporting to me. By the time I retired my managers were up to 25 years younger than me. I don't see why it should bother anybody.

Riddle101

I don't think age is a problem, if the supervisor is qualified for the job and shows he/she is able to take up the responsibility. Age shouldn't be a measuring stick, that's childish if you ask me.

corner of hells

My supervisor is God , he's older than me.

bodice ripper

I had an apprentice who was 7 years my senior.

Thankfully that didn't put a chip on her shoulder so she learned and advanced.

Uriel.

It makes no odds to me either way. Mind you I have never had someone younger than me as my manager. In all of my jobs so far I have been older than all of the staff I manage. In some cases thirty odd years. Staff have never had a problem with that, at least in so far as I know. But then I see myself as good manager of people and know how to deal with staff respectfully. Tis all about the team work to be honest

somesoldiers

As along as its not a woman I don't mind. Women become power hungry maniacs

Kintarō Hattori

My current boss is younger but I don't have an issue- why would I. He's a far smarter and more capable chap than I.

Maximus Alexander

I don't think it would bother me if they were good at their job. But it would be more fuel on the rage fire if they were bad at it.

Nabber

4years is nothing op. You sound like somenoe she doesn't want on the team.

Raging_Ninja

Last year I was 28, telling a man in his late 40s what to do and how to do it (working in software). I don't know how he felt, but I felt sad for him.

Later, I had to recommend letting him go, but (thankfully for my conscience) he left of his own accord for personal reasons.

Shurimgreat

If they have got the job fairly and know what they are doing, then no.

If they got it through nepotism or licking the right people, and are clueless, then yes. This happens a lot by the way, particularly in family run businesses.

Senna

I had a years work placement from college and had staff 20 years my senior showing me the ropes, after leaving to finish college for a year I was back as their manager. I don't think it ever bothered anyone, I still have staff here 20-30 years my senior, no-one bats an eyelid.

PizzamanIRL

I couldn't help but think "I was on this earth before you were even a thought in your parents mind and you're ordering me around!?"

Age doesn't matter in the workplace though

K4t

PizzamanIRL wrote: »

I couldn't help but think "I was on this earth before you were even a thought in your parents mind and you're ordering me around!?"

Age doesn't matter in the workplace though

Are you in the army? A good manager delegates responsibilities to and cooperates with their staff.

Littlekittylou

Irishguy16 wrote: »

it bothered me a little bit in my last job, as my supervisor was 4 years younger than me. Even though I was better qualified, she still ran the show, mostly due to the fact that she was working there longer.it took a while to getting used to, she was 21, I was 25, and it became annoying after a while, particularly when she had her weaknesses, she could cover them up based on her position. I didn't like it, but there was nothing that I could do at the time.

Do you think that age is a problem,particularly when it comes to management positions? Do you think that there is a lack of responsibility involved with a younger supervisor?

That is different.

The_Valeyard

Once they pay me I do not mind!!

CrazyRabbit

Age doesn't matter. I ignore all bosses equally.

Ave Sodalis

I instruct every so often and I find it's usually the older people who are more respectful and listen better than the younger ones. I know instructing isn't quite the same but it's still a position of power over someone and since not listening to me can put the students in a potentially very dangerous situation, I need to be respected. I've had one person younger than me who supposed she knew enough to start instructing me... Not sure if that was a tribute to my teaching that she felt so confident or a failing that she thought she knew more than she really did...

boobar

It wouldn't bother me...

I've been managing teams for over 10 years, I've been in my current job for over 2 years managing a large team and it's just dawned me that I'm the second youngest in the team.

It hasn't been an issue

cassid

I am younger than the staff I manage, some of in their 60's. I always treat them with respect and fairness, and am a bit of a softy, better in the long term for an easy life.

Our group go out for meals and the last meal out I had to bring two of the oldies home as they got twisted on wine, that was a bit weird dropping drunk grannies home.

Santa Cruz

cassid wrote: »

I am younger than the staff I manage, some of in their 60's. I always treat them with respect and fairness, and am a bit of a softy, better in the long term for an easy life.

Our group go out for meals and the last meal out I had to bring two of the oldies home as they got twisted on wine, that was a bit weird dropping drunk grannies home.

Oooooh a granny sandwich. Did they leave their teeth in?

Shenshen

My current manager is a little younger than me, I never actually thought about that before. As long as they're competent in their job, I don't see that it would matter at all.

conorh91

cassid wrote: »

I always treat them with respect

Probably best not to call them

drunk grannies

to their faces of course...

gordongekko

I don't care what age they are so long as they are not a tit.

SEPT 23 1989

Dont have a boss but I enjoy fresh blood coming into the organisation

PNA

I prefer older , more experience

somesoldiers

somesoldiers wrote: »

As along as its not a woman I don't mind. Women become power hungry maniacs

I thought we'd moved past this sort of thing.

Of course if I posted that about my male boss (who's an absolute dote) I'd be lit on for sexism.

Charlie19

If they're able to do the job, then I don't mind but there is nothing worse than taking orders off a incompetent numty.

Tombi!

somesoldiers wrote: »

As along as its not a woman I don't mind. Women become power hungry maniacs

Stop with these kind of comments, please.

Kovu

Not currently but in one of my previous positions I was trainee manager and majority of the staff were over fifty (over twice my age at the time) It didn't bother me until they complained about me doing too much work in the office so they had nothing to do :pac:
One of the major issues I had in that job was that they were rather incompetent with computers and very slow dealing with customers because of it so I would try to do as much work as possible to keep things up to speed. I was on a salary and they got paid by the hour so I guess they didn't appreciate going home earlier....

Duggy747

I don't care if they're younger or older, male or female.


I'd equally have them killed in "mysterious" circumstances.

lazybones32

Irishguy16 wrote: »

it bothered me a little bit in my last job, as my supervisor was 4 years younger than me. Even though I was better qualified, she still ran the show, mostly due to the fact that she was working there longer.it took a while to getting used to, she was 21, I was 25, and it became annoying after a while, particularly when she had her weaknesses, she could cover them up based on her position. I didn't like it, but there was nothing that I could do at the time.

Do you think that age is a problem,particularly when it comes to management positions? Do you think that there is a lack of responsibility involved with a younger supervisor?

If they have the maturity and skill that deserves authority I have no problem.
If they have the theoretical knowledge but lack the practical application of it, I have a slight problem but nothing major; they need to grow into their shoes.
If they have neither ability nor knowledge and status is big on their agenda, then I have a problem and it will come to a head.

I've never run from anyone.

lazybones32

Brutal Deluxe wrote: »

Stop with these kind of comments, please.

Don't know if this classes as "questioning a Mod's decision" but the poster is on to something. An Irish Professor wrote a book on what 'power' does to people's brains (the biological changes that occur from the perception of having more power) and he found that women seem to be more adversely affected by acquiring power than men. Reference will be posted in due course.

Whether the poster meant it as a genuine experiential comment or trolling is beyond my scope and I don't want to be drawn into that.

dr.bollocko

lazybones32 wrote: »

Whether the poster meant it as a genuine experiential comment or trolling is beyond my scope and I don't want to be drawn into that.

Fair play for getting the little dig in in a subtle manner though. We'll just walk by that obviously reasonable opinion because there are links forthcoming that will prove the point beyond the possibility of further argument. Classy move. Can't fault it.

Tombi!

lazybones32 wrote: »

Don't know if this classes as "questioning a Mod's decision" but the poster is on to something. An Irish Professor wrote a book on what 'power' does to people's brains (the biological changes that occur from the perception of having more power) and he found that women seem to be more adversely affected by acquiring power than men. Reference will be posted in due course.

Whether the poster meant it as a genuine experiential comment or trolling is beyond my scope and I don't want to be drawn into that.

mod note
That still doesn't have any bearing on the topic at hand; it's about the age difference and not the gender. So we'll be leaving that discussion from this topic.