Warning... This is a rant! Advice need not apply :)

[Bazza]

Hey guys
Just wanted to post a rant about ageism. Im 22 yo and have worked damn hard to get good at my job. I have been working at my current place for a year and asked my supervisor for some honest feedback. all he could say was 1) im a good sparky 2) im really young, and 3) i stick up for my self. My supervisor said this causes major issues, as it conflicts with my bosses ego (which is huge as he is the stereotypical rich, materialistic bully who gets off on power). He really doesnt like being forced to be fair and reasonable by a 22 year old

So what im ranting about it the concept that people should get paid less because of their age, despite the fact that the young'un is providing the same value as the old fulla. Anyways it doesn't matter now as i am pursuing a different career direction as i didn't like where i was going to end up if i kept doing this. Please post if you have encountered similar issues!!

[Aqutis31]

Here in America we have the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits using various things including age to discriminate on. If treats you differently in any way just because of age you are being discriminated on......but your in NZ so hopefully you guys have a law in place. People in places of power that abuse that power, one day will fall, and fall hard!

[brendannz]

You're quite young, I'm 28.. But don't feel so old.

Anyway man, since you're not asking for advice, I'd say, I agree it really sucks when a workplace is not at all about work, but more about personal politics.

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by Aqutis31

Here in America we have the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits using various things including age to discriminate on. If treats you differently in any way just because of age you are being discriminated on......but your in NZ so hopefully you guys have a law in place. People in places of power that abuse that power, one day will fall, and fall hard!

Actually I think the laws (at least in Texas, where I live - maybe nationally) say that a company can discriminate against employees because of age, if the employee is younger than 40.

For people 40+, they can't discriminate. But under 40, they can. I think this is mostly because they don't want companies kicking out older people because they are at higher health risk (ie, higher probability they will be using the company's health plan).

[ssandra]

It sucks if you are not taking seriously because of your age...

Although I must say, maybe it is simply your bosses ego, and even if you were 90, he would still react the same. People with big ego's tend to be like that...

[pinky3]

Originally Posted by Bazza

Hey guys
Just wanted to post a rant about ageism. Im 22 yo and have worked damn hard to get good at my job. I have been working at my current place for a year and asked my supervisor for some honest feedback. all he could say was 1) im a good sparky 2) im really young, and 3) i stick up for my self. My supervisor said this causes major issues, as it conflicts with my bosses ego (which is huge as he is the stereotypical rich, materialistic bully who gets off on power). He really doesnt like being forced to be fair and reasonable by a 22 year old

So what im ranting about it the concept that people should get paid less because of their age, despite the fact that the young'un is providing the same value as the old fulla. Anyways it doesn't matter now as i am pursuing a different career direction as i didn't like where i was going to end up if i kept doing this. Please post if you have encountered similar issues!!

I am most definitely encountering similar issues!!! I am 22 turning 23 this year. And so far I have not been taken seriously by anyone at any place I have gone to where I actually know something! I was teaching last year at a school where I wasn't allowed to have my own class as I'm not qualified (which is fine) but then when I had to teach lessons for my studies the teachers were so quick to say I was wrong (because of their egos)! The one day I wanted to do an art project so i asked for paper and she said I could only use white paper. Then after she marked my lesson she commented saying I should've used a brighter colour paper...which I'd asked for! It sounds so lame and petty but these people loved to say "don't worry, one day you'll know what to do" aaah!!! I really had some good, new fresh ideas...Needless to say I left that place pretty quickly!!

It's hard though because its always the case. It happens with my brother it happens with my friends. The only person who hasn't fet that way is my other brother who is like assertive as hell! He doesn't let anyone put him down or make him feel less about his job and he is ALWAYS getting promoted... he's 24!! Unfair

[MyEyeIsOpen]

I did fine at your age because I didn't tell people how old I was, and I am married to a woman 18 years older than I am and have older kids than is physically plausible. I don't say, or I dodge the question, and they assumed I was older. I could feel the same heat though.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by pinky3

The only person who hasn't fet that way is my other brother who is like assertive as hell! He doesn't let anyone put him down or make him feel less about his job and he is ALWAYS getting promoted... he's 24!! Unfair

Pinky3, maybe you should ask your brother for some lessons in assertiveness? Sounds like you have a great role model here to teach you how to not let anybody put you down

[Gabo]

Many people make assumptions about a person based on their age. What I've found is that by truly standing out from the crowd, those assumptions are forgotten. I worked as a manger at age 19, and my employees ranged in age from 22 to 40.

Many of them gave me attitude when I first hired them, but once I showed them I was more than capable at my job, they respected me and age was not a problem. I think the biggest problem with age is that young people feel like they have to act inferior because of their age, which makes them timid and reinforces bad assumptions!

[dendennz]

This is a timeless argument that has gone on for years . I know that the older generations (and me included - I'm Gen X, Bazz is Gen Y) find the next generation down hard to relate to at times - they've simply grown up at a different time and I think that conditions them very differently.

But it is hard if you know your work is as good as someone 10 years or more older than you. Providing when you're making your points you're really polite and exercise a bit of restraint (i.e. don't go too hard out arguing that you think you're right ) then over time you will be appreciated. Is it a respect thing? yes. As a fellow Kiwi, I know how hard it is for older Kiwi men to find a respect for a younger Kiwi man. Ridiculous - no one should be judged based on age - but I haven't seen the problem die yet.... if you want an older Kiwi man to respect you (I have 3 brothers and a Dad with a very strong personality so I have observed this first hand) you can't suddenly use your age/youth/relative immaturity as a fall back measure when you end up being a total dick and doing something stupid

Bazza, your actions will speak louder than your words so just keep doing a good job, and when you really feel something needs to be challenged do so with good grace - politeness, considerateness and patience. I find your trade, and that of predominantly male trades, operate so very differently from a mixed office environment (that I work in). Older men can be so intolerant of the younger men, it's like the younger buck will get all the ladies and the older bucks are kinda jealous... youth envy I call it

If you have another direction already planned out then just see this as a means to an end. WHen you are debating/challenging things, consider what your supervisor/boss may have experienced when they were starting out - it's quite possible when they were young they were treated very harshly indeed.

Good luck, dude

Cheers,

Jenny.

[funchy]

I know you don't want advice, but I can't help myself.

You're not paid less due to age. You're paid less because he's in management and you're working under him. He may also have more years of experience. This isn't discrimination... it's just how seniority and rank works.

Is it right idiots end up becoming managers? Nope. But it does happen, and he probably won't be the first one you meet.

Good luck to you with your new career! Maybe you needed to move on anyway. Life is too short to be doing a job you hate.

[Bazza]

Originally Posted by MyEyeIsOpen

I did fine at your age because I didn't tell people how old I was, and I am married to a woman 18 years older than I am and have older kids than is physically plausible. I don't say, or I dodge the question, and they assumed I was older. I could feel the same heat though.

Yep thats definitely a good point, most people dont believe me when i tell them my age. My best friends are in their 30's and ive never dated a girl younger than me.

Originally Posted by funchy

I know you don't want advice, but I can't help myself.

You're not paid less due to age. You're paid less because he's in management and you're working under him. He may also have more years of experience. This isn't discrimination... it's just how seniority and rank works.

Is it right idiots end up becoming managers? Nope. But it does happen, and he probably won't be the first one you meet.

Good luck to you with your new career! Maybe you needed to move on anyway. Life is too short to be doing a job you hate.

Sorry if i gave you the impression that i was comparing my wages to my supervisor, he earns much more than me and deserves every cent.

The situation that i was in was that they wanted to promote me to a sole charge position for a city traffic signals maintenance contract, but weren't will ing to pay me what i thought was fair compensation. So i told them i wouldn't accept the job.

The thing that grates me is that i found out that the person who did take the job is getting $3 an hour more than what i had originally asked for.

I definitely dont have problems with assertiveness, as i am one of the highest paid on-the-ground sparkies in the company and i only got to that position by harassing them for a pay rise until they gave it to me.

Anyways thanks for listening to my rant