Thread regarding 3M layoffs

This post is so boring

If the young and old are competing with each other, then they're too busy to fight a common enemy or solve a common problem.

Let's work together.

I'm somewhat struggling with this conversation string. How did we end up in this day and age defining people by ago as to whether or not they are proficient in the workplace. Time has passed decades ago since we've successfully passed this milestone now here we are ... again. As someone over 40 I can say I am frustrated with the younger generations and how both parents and society have failed them. The lack of common sense and basic capabilities (both on and off the job) are astonishing. And I find myself assuming somewhat of a parental role in working with them in an effort to help them (and for my own sanity). No doubt times have changes and not for the betterment of the younger folks. Coming out of college, the older generation came to the workplace with a different focus than the younger generation does today. Not sure how we can close the gap, but for the betterment of society, we all need to try harder.

The kids out of college I've hired have some of the worst tech skills. They have no tech ability other than pressing buttons and navigating the 1st layer of options, none really know how a computer works, can troubleshoot anything, or are willing to go 1 step deeper on their own. At least those of us over 40 had to learn networking, drivers, troubleshooting and were self-sufficient. My tech skills are in the top 5% of any one I work with at 3M.

Nobody is pointing out Lotus Notes as proof that they're tech savvy. And I've sent plenty of resumes from young people proudly saying they're familiar with Office 360 ...which has Word.

Some people keep up in their fields and some don't. Also, experienced people know a lot about what was tried before and why those approaches failed. That's valuable.

It's not old vs young. Don't judge people by age.

It's true that old timers need to learn new skills and keep up with the latest in technology in order to compete with the younger college graduates. The problem with old timers is, we have worked really hard for the past 20 years that it's taken everything out of us and now at time procrastinating to learn the new skills. Also, I think covid made us lazy. We aren't communicating as much as we were in person when we saw each other on a daily basis. Now it's zoom or team meetings, or texting or emailing. That personal touch we once used to feel when communicating in person is being lost when telecommuting. At my work, they hired 30 PhD graduates who are much younger then me, and not one will say Hello when you walk into the coffee room. Either they are on the phone texting or have headphones sticking out of their ears. I'm the one who always says "Hello, how is your day going? " and their response is "it's going okay" and that's the end of the conversation. The social skills between the young and the old no longer exists. I agree that the old need to learn new skills, but the young should be willing to teach the old and the old willing to have the patients to teach the young who always want everything done yesterday.