Youngsters now days are very entitled

@FlatWhiteOrLatte- I read it as the sort of job some people see as a stop gap, the young people the OP works with have no intention of working in this company for more than a year, they don’t care about impressing management or making as much money for the company as possible, or giving good customer service, because many don’t plan to still be there by next rounds of appraisals.

If it’s a bit of a low level job, with an old fashioned hierarchy system that expects lower staff members to be deferential to senior, it’s going to be viewed as a bad employer they want to move on from ASAP so they act like they don’t care because they don’t care.

I work closely with an apprentice, she's great and I don't recognise any of what you say. I think it's just down to individuals. She's got a much better memory than me, is very proactive (won't just sit there if we have a quiet 15 minutes, she looks for something she can be doing), good with customers, will ask for help if she's not sure of something rather than thinking she knows everything. She comes to work when she's sick and just powers through, just like us older ones do (conversely she says she's "dying" when she's got a mild sniffle which is quite amusing, she can be quite dramatic but I find it quite charming in a way).

Her predecessor was much older so I was quite worried at the difference between them, but I needn't have worried. We are very different indeed but she's very likeable with a good work ethic so I've been enjoying getting to know what it's like to work with someone younger than my own kids, it's been refreshing.

The one thing I would say is that when she is with other people of a similar age to her I find the group behaviour a bit annoying occasionally but it's nothing serious, it's just trivial things such as them being a bit squealy and silly or loud or dramatic or something. They probably think us older ones are staid and boring though, it's just the generation gap.

Perhaps I've just been lucky and haven't come across any young people of the type that has been moaned about on this thread.

People have been making this complaint since ever. Its the 'entitlement' of younger generations in the workplace that has helped increase work life balance amd benefits over time and long may it last.

I thought media.

Sometimes it's the job that can attract certain types of people, rather than an age thing. I know you don't want to say but sounds like you're cabin crew or a job that has a similar culture. The ones who have good work ethic are more likely to stay and become "senior" later down the line but those who see it as a "vacation" or "easy" job will behave the way you've described.

How about entitled 50-60 somethings who it appears, are coasting until retirement? Seen that myself (alongside entitled younger workers).

I think senior managers can be incredibly naive. They always think people are happy when they’re not. Just because people don’t say so.

They think because it’s expected to work Christmas people will do it happily because it’s in the contract.

I think you probably have some very resentful and unhappy people in your team due to the dire wages and conditions. Read between the lines.

Absolutely equally, regardless of time served?

Good point

and refusal of a duty? Weird

How do you know what gets put on anyone's record?

twas ever thus, surely?

I think it’s the Christmas chocolates

I wonder if this means senior colleagues get first dibs on Christmas leave. Poor practice if so.

Oh come on OP, think back to your 20s. There have always been rude arrogant twats in the workplace. Maybe your new industry just attracts more of them.

You are very junior
They are very junior
This is a low paid industry
There is a weird very stale heirarchal structure in your passive company

No wonder they are taking the piss

Ok so finally it sounds like it’s being addressed

so if this person does it again… the disciplinary wheels begin to grind in to motion

although perhaps the senior managers pee themselves at the prospect

Well I’m suprised on those wages. How do you know they’re happy? I bet they’re not.

I was on 17k with a car at 26 in 1989. I was very happy. And l didn’t work Christmas or have seniority contests for the best bits of the job.

You’re not paying much more than that now.

It sounds like they’re getting to the Christmas chocs before these senior managers

and seriously - if these manager can’t address what’s pissing then off… well the company sounds utterly shite from top to bottom

For this 'pushing in to the front of the queue' to be continuing the senior staff must be letting them get away with it across the board. Why is that?

This first pick thing could be made equal so everyone gets their turn. But I suspect some of the older and young ones don't want that. Doubt it's just the seniors.

Good for them.

Good company etiquette🤮based on outdated working expectations.

Because it takes something to sign a contract knowing you are going to call in sick at Christmas because you don't agree with the pay. They can decide to not tow the company line by getting another job. Oh wait....

It's really hard to imagine why mentioning the industry will be outing.

Surely nobody is going to think ahhh, that's that Beryl from customer services at Acme Corps if you just say the industry is mushroom picking, yacht building or hair net manufacture?

Well the colleagues could do the same? That would maybe sort out the shitty wages?