I'm in my late 30s and have worked since I was 16. Im not sure if this is something unique to my workplace however, I've noticed a growing trend in young ppl straight out of uni joining our workplace who have abysmal communication skills.
We have a young person at the moment who has been with us nearly 2 years. They refuse to deal with clients and just does the backend work of a project. We have an informal reception area - ppl knock at the door and we deal with their query. They never get up and answer the door.
They sit in silence the entire time they are there, listen in to our conversations and smile to themselves when it's something funny but don't participate. If they do talk it's very rare and awkward and just about work - one or two sentences. They then go home and send half a dozen emails when they could have just spoken to us about it which would have been quicker instead of going back and forth with emails. If I call their number (work phone) they never answer.
A colleague's DM passed away recently in very sudden and tragic circumstances. It was an extremely difficult time for my colleague and this was no secret. She spoke about it openly. The young person who sits next to her, not once asked how she was doing or even acknowledged it. I only know this as colleague was slightly hurt that they didn't ask as she does try to make an effort with younger colleague.
This type of behaviour has been similar in the 3 of the 5 most recent graduates at work.
Im not asking anyone to make friends at work ( I certainly don't) and be life of the party, chatting away constantly but a certain level of communication with your colleagues, in my mind is expected and it's considered rude to just sit there in silence and especially to pick and choose jobs that require minimal verbal communication.
I'm expecting the usual mn response that noone should have any expectation to speak to anyone at work and that's it's absolutely acceptable to only do work that you're comfortable with.