haven’t quite understood the importance of what they are doing. There’s a sense they are rolling their eyeballs when you point out it’s important things are done a certain way
This same idea seems to be popping up throughout this thread. That things have had to change because the youngsters can't handle it. But no one seems to have the insight to question whether it's actually the workplace which has changed instead.
There is so much middle management now. So many different tiers and job titles, with people reporting to so many different colleagues. So many processes and roles and rules which seem to exist only as an excuse to give somebody else a job.
A few years ago, you'd go to work, be part of a team and all report to one manager. You were left to learn the ropes and get on with it.
Now you have online exams sent to you every week by HR, made by people who are being paid a lot of money to literally tell you how you should sit in a chair.
You have sub team leaders, line managers, senior managers, project leads and project managers to report to. Each of these ask for their own reports and development plans, demanding paperwork and email trails in order to prove to auditors that their job exists for a reason.
HR used to be 'Personnel'. It was one desk behind a door. Then it was a corner office with half a dozen desks. Now, they have their own entire floor, and are endlessly sending out emails and making up arbitrary deadlines, "be kind" meetings, organising Pride marches and creating pointless targets to hit.
You have to do everything by the book now. There's no pragmatism or sense of being practical, because one person once came up with an Excel template and decided it had to be used for everything, even when it doesn't fit.
There's constant micromanagement, no one really provides any real training because nobody has the time, or they actually don't really know themselves.
There's a never-ending string of emails, phone calls and teams chats. Pointless meetings held by people who have nothing better to do.
So much bullshit has seeped into working life now and I think the new starters can see it for what it is, whereas others have slowly become accustomed to it, or are a part of it.
I can't stand the finger pointing at generations, and I'm not gen Z. I work with a 24 year old and he seems much younger than his years in the things he talks about, and he doesn't follow the news at all. He's a bit immature but he works hard. But I don't care that he grumbles about having to complete two surveys a month, fill out a frankly ridiculous timesheet or jump through hoops to document every single thing he does.
And the salaries offered to young people are appalling. Starting salary at my place hasn't really increased much in the last 12 years. But rent in the city has increased by 45%.