Overly sensitive employees/apprentices

[OhGoodnessItsSoExhausting]

Ok, so I pride myself on being a strengths focussed supervisor. I always want to mentor and help my employees and apprentices as much as possible. But the last two apprentices (all apprentices in this role are graduates if that's relevant) have been soooooo sensitive and just plain.annoying!

I can't give any feedback because they 'know it already.' I can't say anything right because apparently I know nothing about transgender issues or decolonisation of the workplace and I need to hear them 'educate' me on it all and lend me books because they (20 years younger with zero experience in this role) know how to resolve ingrained, inherent systemic racism and prejudice and clearly if they were in my role they'd have solved all the problems in society which impact the role, already.

They are always 'curious about X...' and 'wondering about y...' instead of just speaking in normal language

They are driving me insane!!!

They can't manage their workload (even though I'm so worried about upsetting them I give them half what I've given to previous apprentices). Apparently it's important to be 'boundaried' and assertive with your needs. (Yes,.I know that, but I'm just asking you to do your job - you are paid more for these apprenticeships than many of the more senior staff in the organisation).

They are so bloody self absorbed and self riteous. I find them so patronising.

Is this entitlement, condescending attitude and use of fluffy language a generation thing? Or (please tell me), I've just had a bad run of two extremely annoying apprentices!!? (who I found out today are friends! So I guess they feed off each other discussing how amazing and riteous they are and how everyone else in the organisation is incompetent.)

Grrr..

Off topic but…I think I love you!

I must remember that response! 🤣

Haven't read the full thread but they don't sounds sensitive to me, just plain lazy using language to get out of being held responsible.

I wonder if young peoples attitudes to work are shifting in general. Have you seen this movement online? (I appreciate it's Reddit so mainly US male demographic, but I see lots of British posts on there too)

www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/

@JuniorPenny - actually you can spell focused either way. Both are fine.

It's nothing new -

“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”

Socrates

I train and accredit our apprentices and there sense of entitlement and self righteousness can be breathtaking .

@OhGoodnessItsSoExhausting you should read this thread

Yes they are young woman. I don't mind the occasional 'im curious about...' but it's quite clear she means 'i completely disagree with you about...' and I'd rather she just said so as it comes across as so patronising and as if she's my manager trying to give me some gentle news. I wouldnt mind it occasionally, it is clear she is trying (extremely clumsily) to put her points across politely, but it's constant 'wonderings' and curiosity and it's driving me bonkers!!

And yes, they are taught at university to 'ask curious questions', but this is taking to extreme and it's just plain irritating!!!

Not just mine then!!

It’s just two people - friends so presumably a similar outlook and attitude. You can’t possibly make a generalisation about an entire generation based on two people.

Unfortunately the salary is set nationally (and paid by the government, from your taxes!!! So you are finding this annoying pair!!) People from different parts of this region attend the uni here, and depending where people live the uni tries to give placements as near to the students houses. However, there are universities up and down the country offering this same scheme, with employers far and wide. Apprentices in this role get paid this wage regardless which uni they go to or which placement they have.

I do think the wage is too much personally, but I have no say over that. It's part of the reason the places are so competitive.

I watched all this, I was hooked, I have one millennial and a Gen Z and co-workers the same age. I can relate.

thanks for sharing.

Where abouts geographically are you based, whats the wfh/office situation. I do know a really good grad in london.

*funding not finding

Large employer - we take on dozens of graduate apprentices. Our service area stopped taking any of them on a few years ago, because we prefer people who think the workplace is for working. The younger apprentices (school leavers) are generally great and we continue to host them successfully. But we gave up on graduates because after three years of "film studies" or "sociology", they know everything about the world, everything about work, everything about any possible subject at all, and we have found them dismissive of learning anything they don't already "know".

"I'm just curious about x"....really? Sounds like your ready for some more work then..no? Well let me know when your finished and we can talk about progression

Please speak to the university's placement office. If multiple employers say the same thing (and as a lecturer I wouldn't be surprised if they do...) then the placement office can work that into their prep with next year's bunch.

The point about a lot of young people behind two years behind where they should be socially is very true IME. I'm inclined to be sympathetic to that, but only to some degree. I would explain to them the difference in their output compared to previous years.

Absolutely not! Apparently they are 'emotionally drained' by all the uni work and discussions (to be fair, if all the discussions had at uni are as annoying and politically charged as the ones my current apprentice keeps trying to have with me, I'm not surprised she's 'emotionally drained' - a short time with her each week for supervision is exhausting!) and it's all.overwhelming.

She is struggling to 'fit everything in' at the moment and is "mindful of my work life balance and not to burn out". This one is keen on maintaining boundaries', and getting out of placement only what she needs for uni and she seems to be forgetting she is paid and the placement is not only about her and meeting 'her needs'.

Incorrect, both are acceptable spellings - in the UK and beyond.

A single s is indeed more common, but the spelling is irregular so an acceptable variation.

Maybe you can tell them you would like to interact on how they can improve their productivity, that in the work place while feelings and inclusivity and feelings do need to be managed high productivity is what you need to be targeting to gain advancement and monetary gains.

You need to discuss the parameters of these "apprenticeships" (internships?) in much more detail with the uni. And you need to set boundaries and expectations when they start, and have regular and consistent feedback every week (yes, time consuming but you only need 30 minutes for this). Any talk that isn't related to the task(s) in hand - shut it down. Change the subject and get back on track/topic.

I have 2 interns to lightly supervise and their inane babbling sometimes gets on my tits. So i make sure we are covering topics that i know i know inside out, and keep to that. Anything else is shut down with "we have limited time. Do this/where are you on that?" and ignore ignore ignore.

I'd tell the uni you don't want any more tbh

Are any of these things they want yo talk about having an impact on them snd their work? Can they not get something done because someone above them is sexist, or being obstructive and the power imbalance is in play? If not those conversations need parking.
They need reminding that turning up is not doing your company a favour, they are being renumerated for their services and there is an expected standard they need to perform to. As with anyone on a wage. And presumably there is a pass/ fail aspect?
If they can't manage uni and the apprenticeship they need to consider whether they should carry on with both.
Taking care not to upset them isn't doing them any favours in the long run and your organisation is being short changed and inconvenienced. I know it's not the company paying the wages but if time and effort is being put in it should be worth your while and not as you say a hindrance.

You need to give them feedback aka a kick up the arse that they are really lucky to be on such a scheme if it’s so competitive

Yes work life balance is important but this internship should be practice for real life work where they will not get away with saying they don’t want to work because of “boundaries”

As pp’s have said feedback to the uni on the quality of the candidates is needed here

Do you provide an end of internship review? Be honest in that if you do but don’t write any feedback which you have not given verbally to the individual

You're wrong. In UK English, both focused and focussed are fine.

1. Nobody asked you to critique the OP. It makes you look like a twat.
2. If you do, make sure you know what you're talking about 🙄