Age old story: I’m an older millennial (41) managing Gen Z (24) and finding it hard going. At first, I thought this was a simple personality clash, until a friend suggested it’s probably an inter generational clash due to the problems I was describing:
My employee goes AWOL often. We work hybrid so if she’s not online I can’t track her down. This isn’t normally a huge deal unless I need something urgently.
My employee cries a lot. This is normally in response to someone offering constructive criticism.
My employee complains that she’s doing work above her pay grade (she’s not).
My employee complains that she’s stressed with a particular area of work and cries. So I take over the area with her agreement. But when I’m not around she does work on the area and then complains to me afterwards that “she’s been sucked back in” to the stress.
My employee is erratic in her opinions of me. One week I’m the best manager ever and she send me cute gifs and compliments me to others, the next week she’s complaining to others that she’s doing the work of my grade.
My employee complains that she doesn’t know what I do each day (I’m 2 grades above, does she need to know?)
When I google Gen Z in the workplace it describes my employee 100%.
I’m fairly new to management so understand I need tips/suggestions to make this work. I’m far from perfect myself due to inexperience. This is also her first job.
Disclaimer: I’m Autistic, which adds to my feelings of bamboozlement!
Experienced managers of Mumsnet, please advise!