Was I an idiot or was work colleague

[Redcliff]

I have just had a very unnerving experience at work and would love to get others take on it. I started a new job a couple of weeks ago and I just had a meeting with a manager today - we have a pot of money to spend on apprentices and he has not used much of it (we as an organisation paid into it and lose the money if its not used) .

I mentioned a couple of ways we could use it and his response was "young people are trouble " (ie when you employ them) I said (politely I think) that I thought that sounded a bit ageist and he replied "I am going to have to watch what I say around you" . He was serious- not said in a banter way at all. Should I not have said anything?

No you definitely should have.
I'd of asked why young people are trouble.

Sorry but isn't it young people who qualify for apprenticeships and not older people or have I got that wrong?

I think it's good when men start to watch what they say. Most of it is drivel anyway.

Anyone can be an apprentice but it is mainly younger people - that was one reason his attitude was so surprising

Eye - good point - maybe I don't want to hear what he is going to say :)

Itsbritneybiatches - Actually the new apprentice levy doesn't limit you on age. Loads of people are apprentices now. Graduates, post grads, experienced people doing professional qualifications. It's changed quite recently.

Colleague: 'I'm going to have to watch what I say around you'

OP: 'Best you do'

Good on you. If no one challenges attitudes like these, bigots like him will go on thinking discrimination is ok.

I might be an apprentice. I am so bored in my job. I'm in a position where I can do this soon.

What sort of apprenticips are out there? It was all plumbers and sparks when I was in school.

In no way have you been an idiot. Ageism is alive and kicking . The company I work for have paid an employee a lower wage than the wage his counterpart is getting due to his age. Even though he has the same qualifications needed for the role, the business decided because he was 24 he wasn't going to get the £40,000 wage that his colleague now gets because he is younger.

Not much can be done as he has accepted the job at the reduced salary and is most likely not aware that his colleague is paid significantly more.

“I think it's good when men start to watch what they say. Most of it is drivel anyway.”

You’re against ageism but sexism is ok?

Eye - how very sexist of you

Perhaps the 24 yr old had the qualifications but not the experience? Experience counts for a lot and a lower salary in that case is not necessarily ageism.

The example given in the Ip

Its great being the one who people watch what they say around.
No casual racism, sexism, homophobia etc.
No ‘It was just banter’ shite.

Happy days.

Posted too soon! Saying "young people are trouble" is totally different though.

Unfortunately you can't change what people think, your manager has his view and the best you can do is try and circumvent him somehow.

My manager knows to "watch what he says" round me. You can't change them.

Most apprentices I've seen recently have been older, many in their 40s and 50s.

@itsbritneybiatches Loads of apprentice opportunities now. On the Royal Navy Webpages: Apprentice Chef, Steward, Engineer, Communications Specialist & Seamanship - if you fancy a career at sea

A big thumbs up for "watch what you say". You can't change beliefs easily so a change in behaviour is a good start.

britney apprenticeships vary in level from Level 2 (equivalent to GCSE, but only available to people age 16 and over) to degree apprenticeships. Subjects include plumbing, construction, electrical, customer service, business administration, marketing, IT, healthcare, childcare, hairdressing, hospitality, automotive, management, accounting

Colleague: 'I'm going to have to watch what I say around you'

OP: 'I’d rather you didn’t. Better that I know which brands of discrimination you like to practice, makes the HR conversations easier”

If you're talking about the levy there is only one way you can use it anyway - on training for apprentices.

That said, he's a knob. My IT Manager at my last place refused to allow an apprentice as 'young people are a security risk'. He was a knob too.

@Poshjock
Thanks but I did my early twenties in the army 

I don't think I'd pass the fitness test at the minute! Or get the child care!

@chocolateworshipper

That is really really interesting. Thank you. I'm going to look into it all.

I’d have been tempted to answer the git with ‘Yes, please do watch what you say around me. It’s a great starting point!’

OP, are you sad that you’ve been now well-and-truly categorised as one of those annoying people who will call out the isms (ageism, sexism, etc) and forthrightly expect professional behaviour in the workplace? One of those cheerless harridans that prevent whispered malice and can’t take a ‘joke’. No, thought you mightn’t be!!

Have a champagne, see you at the club meetings.

The answer to "Young people are trouble" should surely have been "Not all of them are by a long shot - let's put a good advert together and go through the applications carefully and I'm sure we'll get some good ones."

I am likeing this club! It is the levy - if we don't use it its all gone. Lucky for me he isn't my manager but will no doubt have to do some work with him.

For the person asking about apprenticeships - the you gov is a great place to start. It lists all of them and there is a massive range.