Workplace Buzz: Today's Headlines
A Diverse Work Force
Generational Diversity Is a Growing Force Within the Workplace, says Tory Johnson.
Lois Schwartz had landed her dream job in event marketing.
"It was very exciting and I was so happy," she said. "It was a higher position than I had ever had before, and I was thrilled."
But the elation went sour as the 54-year-old quickly began to realize that she just couldn't work for a younger boss.
"Maybe that's my ego talking that thinks someone younger than me has less knowledge than I do," Schwartz said. "I think that it's very common for someone older to be a little resentful to someone who is 25 years younger telling you what to do."
Schwartz is not alone. Americans are staying in the work force longer than ever before— postponing retirement or doing away with it altogether. At the same time, Generation Y— those workers born between 1977 and 1991— now make up the largest segment of the work force at 80 million strong. So at some point all of us will work for or with people who aren't our age and who, through nature and nurture, bring different work styles and work ethics to their jobs.
Reverse Sexism at the Office
Joseph Wardy writes in the Daily Record, male chauvinism is sexist and radical feminism is reverse sexism. Here's a personal experience with reverse sexism:
In 1988, I was hired as a management consultant/trainer by an insurance company in New York. During my six-month probation period, I received many commendations from managers regarding my consulting and training.
But a funny thing happened on the way to that ill-conceived success. My probation was a disaster in that it was extended an additional six months. Why?
My boss told me I was a poor team player. When I asked her what changes were necessary, she said, "Don't do anything on your own. Check with me on everything."
So, for the next three months all I did was twiddle my thumbs. Occasionally, I climbed the wall to avoid falling asleep at my desk.
With a great need to know my status, I scheduled a meeting with my boss. I was surprised she allowed me.
When I asked her for feedback, she said, "You are doing much better. Keep up the good work. You are beginning to fit in."
Nothing Funny About Sexual Harassment For Either Gender
We often talk about sexual harassment against women in the workplace but for this column I’m going to address the growing problem of sexual harassment against men in the workplace writes MSNBC contributor, Eve Tahmincioglu.
“Many people mistakenly believe that harassment is limited to females,” says Roberta Chinsky Matuson, a human resource expert. “The truth is that this type of experience is just as damaging to men.”
While the number of sexual harassment cases over all has consistently declined in the past few years, “sexual harassment filings by men have consistently increased, doubling over 15 years,” says David Grinberg, a spokesman for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC.
Even though women filing charges makes up the bulk of the EEOC’s sexual harassment workload, men are becoming a bigger piece of the pie, with nearly 2000 filing charges last year.
Tory Johnson
