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..

I work with a lot of 6th Form students, uni students and graduates and with the exception of a few, they are pretty useless. They are always off sick, do very little when they are there, and profess to have anxiety to get out of doing anything above minimum expectation. In contrast, the women I work with over 40, even into their 70's do triple the work, have a very decent work ethic and will come in, even if feeling half dead. Lately both myself and my mature colleagues have decided we have had enough and we are no longer willing to do our job, and theirs as well. One uni student told me how much she was earning the other day, and it is 10% more than me. How is that fair?

Yeah let’s write off an entire generation on the basis of your experience of two people

everybody scoffs and rolls their eyes but KPIs are your friend here.

Do the students know the purpose of the apprenticeship? what is the desired outcome for hem, the uni, the company and the taxpayer/society?

I hear from friends in academia that since the advent of fees students these days tend to see themselves as customers, not only always right but that they are entitled to a(n instant) return on their investment. It is skewed (they're not entirely wrong but they're looking for it in the wrong place at the wrong time) but nobody seems to have explained to them that things that seem so so so important in uni are of little to no consequence outside.

Having said that: are they trans? are they being bullied (because of that)? is there a chance that they are being made to feel uncomfortable?

I have a fantastic intern (paid) currently who is doing an amazing job, always delivers and I would love to keep her on. I have a graduate employee who in the other hand is a snowflake who can't organise herself and is never proactive in anything and has very crises which require time off. The grad is paid more. In my recent experience, last five years maybe, most new graduates have been more trouble than they are worth but the interns have been great, perhaps as they are still studying and not so up themselves.

I've noticed that our school leaver apprentices are fab and keen to learn, but the uni ones are unwilling to do tasks they see as beneath them, and struggle to interact with others.

It's made me question if encouraging DS to go to uni is the right thing to do tbh.

What. Total. Nonsense.

these people have inherited a world that’s on fire (literally) and a society where they cannot buy a home…

and they have the older generation wondering why they don’t want to work, why they spend all their money on flat whites etc.

how about taking some (generational) responsibility? We ruined the environment, voted in such a way to protect our property rights, voted for brexit. Basically we have made their lives worse. So much worse. Why would they want to work? Why wouldn’t they be depressed in the world we have given them.

I can see why it’s irritating, I really can. But I also think it’s a good thing that young people a) want to tackle ingrained systemic prejudice in our society, because it does exist and b) are demanding better work/life balance and are more conscious of burnout than previous generations.

It’s. Not. Fair.

Who is to blame for the unfairness??!!

not the bloody kid starting out.

here’s a tip- don’t come in when you are sick. Fight for better work conditions. Vote for a better world. Level UP.

They are not all like this but a significant number are! I mentor some of our interns (I’m the no 2 in our organisation), and set them specific pieces of work (usually longer term research projects). I’ve had:

”I don’t think you can really teach me anything. You see, I got a double first from Cambridge, and a Master’s from Sciences Po, and Karen told me you didn’t even go to university, so I don’t see how you can mentor me.”

”Mmm, no, I don’t fancy doing that.” (When given a tasking to complete.)

”I can’t finish the task by Friday. I am very busy socially this week so I’ll be working from home all week.”

I’ve refused to mentor the current one as he doesn’t bother turning up for sessions, doesn’t prepare what he’s been asked to prepare, and generally shows little interest. I asked him if he’d like someone else as a mentor (our economist is quite keen to get her hands on him!), if he wants a different focus, or anything specific he’d like to work on. “Mmm, no, it’s fine…”

Yesssss!!!!!

Love that video @slightlysnippy thanks for sharing

Though I am not sure this is a "millenial" issue.
I'm a millennial (early 30s) and can identify with a lot of what Simon has said in this video.

But I also recognise what OP has said from this new raft of employees where I work. They seem to spend a huge amount of time critiquing what is happening around them at work, promoting their sexuality/gender, "educating" everyone around them.... but in terms of work I don't see the output nor the worry about making a good impression as a hard worker.

Also less likely to demonstrate loyalty to the company. Not necessarily a bad thing but I think it's noteworthy.

I agree it's great that we have moved away from the fear of tyrannical managers that I had when I started my career, but I think having a level of respect and wanting to get your head down and work is admirable and I feel like many see the work place as another platform to project their views/annoyances.

I think these fit more into the "Gen Z" category than millennials which seems a little too wide.

There is clearly something wrong in the pay structure of the organisation pays what are graduate trainees more than the senior staff in the organisation. How are senior staff expected to manage people who are already earning more than them?

how can this be true!??

I'm currently frustrated by a recent graduate, but in my situation the candidate is mid thirties. Reading the previous posts, I wonder how much this is an age thing an how much of it is university dogma.

I think it's relevant that the graduate didn't properly complete their course due to covid and was fast tracked to join the workforce.

If it's a university linked internship scheme then I would inform them that the calibre of their students are poor . The university needs to ensure that the students they're sending are up to your requirements.

I'd speak to the internship coordinator about the person specification for the job. Maybe introduce a basic skills test & interview (if you don't do it already) as part of the internship recruitment process. You need to make it a bit harder for snowflakes to pass the first round.

Completely agree. I’m a young millennial and I think a lot of this idea of my generation being behind socially is partly to do with the fact that we can’t meet these expected milestones financially. So many of my friends are living at home to save up for a mortgage, or they’re stuck renting at prices so high they can never save enough for a deposit. Why would they make their lives about work when work is just about enabling them to scrape by? I think it’s great that people are getting better at enforcing boundaries with their time, most therapy clients I see are struggling with this in middle age.

OP’s two do sound a bit know it all and irritating, but they are two people. Also, to reiterate what others have said, 26 and younger is gen Z, 27-38 is millennial, so the video about millennials doesn’t necessarily belong here

For there to be a work life balance there has to actually be some WORK in it…

There does. But if the OP'S organisation previously required 60 hours work for 40 hours pay then good on the apprentices for putting their foot down.

As for the rest of it, well manage them.

here’s a tip- don’t come in when you are sick. Fight for better work conditions. Vote for a better world. Level UP.

In principle i agree. We do far too much and pick up far too much slack, so in that respect we should all be making more noise about our work/life balance. If Covid taught us nothing it should have taught us to look after our health and not go to work and spread germs. Working all hours for little reward is a thankless task and nobody appreciates "having" to do it.

Here's the "but". We have graduates who start on a good salary with good conditions (it is the nature of our industry). But they all want to be senior managers now, with the perks and the bonus but without putting in the slog. I was literally whined at by a recent graduate who had to travel second class (on the nice fast train, with a reserved seat) whereas the director they are accompanying has a first class ticket. This is a woman in her 50s who slogged through uni, masters, phd, trade exams facing the usual discrimination women with children get. And sure, the director bitched and whined about it sometimes and it was a struggle. But she is now reaping the 6 figure salary reward, first class travel, assistants to do the legwork etc. You don't get that without investing in your career.

As a graduate this is your chance - you have fewer commitments in terms of children, studying or whatever. Ours earn a decent salary and can totally get on the property ladder in a few years. You have to strike that work/life balance and it is different at different times in your life/career path. (I get whined at by those with young kids "meh you go to so many operas/events i have kids" - but yah - when my kids were small i missed out on all that too. duh.)

Slightlysnippy
WOW that video is so enlightening of people i work with.

@PaniDomu ”I don’t think you can really teach me anything. You see, I got a double first from Cambridge, and a Master’s from Sciences Po, and Karen told me you didn’t even go to university, so I don’t see how you can mentor me.”

Well obviously nothing then apart from perhaps general civility, social skills and good communication (not to mention organisational knowledge), which will be quite useful in their career 🙄

Though the ridiculous emphasis on UGs getting firsts by graduate employers and an over inflated view that certain universities = universal seal of approval by graduate employers fuels this belief by those graduates who fit the criteria. So whilst irritating, these grads have been taught to think this way about themselves.

Oh bullshit. We are ruining the environment. Its an ongoing process with every generation doing their bit. It wasn't pristine til 1955 and then pissed on by the boomers.

If people don't support government policy they can, from 18, vote, or better yet campaign for a fairer /better political system. But I doubt they'll be any less likely to vote against their perceived interests when they do, so why lambast others for doing so?

And why should they want to work? Because they want to fucking eat, just like the rest of us. How nice that this is a choice for some of them.

Watched it all. I have 2 millennial sons.Simon Sinek explains things really well.

Not going to flame you, but people have been saying this about the younger generation since Roman times (and probably way before that, we just didn't have it recorded).

That said, I wouldn't put up with discussions on transgenderism or colonialism (or anything else political) in the workplace - unless it's part of eg a workplace-mandated anti-racist policy or diversity training or similar. . I'd just change the subject and move on.

how about taking some (generational) responsibility? We ruined the environment, voted in such a way to protect our property rights, voted for brexit. Basically we have made their lives worse. So much worse. Why would they want to work? Why wouldn’t they be depressed in the world we have given them

Don't disagree, but how much of this is relevant to this particular workplace? I am furious about Brexit and the lack of care for the environment too. But my political views are not relevant to my day to day work.

^Absolutely not! Apparently they are 'emotionally drained' by all the uni work and discussions

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'.^

Seriously OP if they are not up-to the job I would hand them back to the university end of the week. State they are unable to fulfil their work obligations and are not suitable for this role. The university need to know this. We had work placement students for a year and they take up time & effort. Some are worth it, others not so much. But the tutor did ask for feedback on them all.

The pair of them sound like they could do with a life lesson here. They are clearly just doing this for the money & tick box so putting in minimal effort.