Is every corporate workplace like this?

[Wondersense]

I work in a corporate, private sector environment that has a lot of very young employees (under 25 years old). My ex manager let slip that this is a deliberate employment practice and they screen candidates by age in my department. I'm an older Millennial.

It's very apparent to me that it's a sort of unspoken taboo to just do your job, as per job description, and just be content with life. Even though it's a dead-end job in that there are no interesting opportunities other than being a manager, the expectation is that everyone wants to hustle and climb.....I'm not sure what kind of corporate career ladder, because like I said, it's a dead end job. Goal setting is mandatory and you're supposed to have highlights and achievements to showcase in performance reviews. On the surface, the company says they prioritise wellbeing and life outside of work, but it's clear they want to employ people who consider their job to be the centre of their life.

You'd think we work in some kind of glamorous, jet-setting industry, but we don't. Most days are mundane, and quite frankly, I cherish the slower pace. I was massively overworked in my first crazy 1.5 years in the company, almost quit at one point, got very stressed, but I ploughed on through it all, keeping everything afloat and maintaining a high standard throughout.

My efforts & diligence were never really rewarded, and it's apparent that my workplace is full of politics, ego stroking, game-playing, and I feel like I'm seen less-than because I'm not bothered with status or climbing the corporate ladder. I just want to do my job, as described, and not be badgered about goal-setting that will get me no where even if I fulfil all of them. I've been looking at other jobs, but I just wondered, is every corporate work place like this, or do they all expect you to hustle-hustle-hustle??

You’ve just described my age and workplace.
Im writing my CV now.

I've worked for several multinational corporations and yes that sounds completely normal.

Sounds pretty normal except for the completely illegal age discrimination.

Yes I am an older millennial and did find corporate like this, especially wanting people to have the job at the centre of their life - even though it was mind numbingly easy and kinda pointless! Lots of young people too

What do you mean by hustle?

Yep, that exactly describes my old workplace. Fine in my 20s but can't think of anything worse now I'm 40s!

The goal setting (pointless once a year activity) and wellbeing of employees bits sounds familiar. I feel like we talk the talk a lot on such matters but don't actually walk the walk. A lot of effort is invested in younger recruits but once they’ve got you to a certain level you’re practically invisible.

Sounds normal. Not my current role but previous ones.

Although we weren't necessarily ageist, we just wanted people who a) had a recent MBA and the contacts that came with it, and b) didn't have loads of 'industry experience' which can take a while to unlearn.

My suggestion is to work for a smaller company. Possibly even a family owned one.

They have their own issues but are less “corporate”.

(I’ve worked in very corporate but now happier than I’ve ever been in a smallish company).

Do we pay attention to age? Not explicitly or legally. However, we have to think about the stream of employees and promotions. We need senior, mid-level, and junior people. It’s rare to be able to hire someone externally in our field and have them really integrate so we train in-house. That means hires tend to be younger, but not always. It’s about having a good mix of skill levels and knowledge base at any given time.

hustle? Absolutely. The degree of hustle depends on the place. My old firm expected the moon. 3am overseas call. Last minute trips abroad that take you away for weeks. It was a cancelling your anniversary dinner 5 minutes in advance kind of place. My current firm has much better work life balance.

I work for a charity after spending 15 years in the private sector at a very large firm. The hustle in my current charity job vs my old job is unreal, the politics, ambition, sense of entitlement etc is just way more than I was used to. People suck up to the boss in the most obvious ways and it drives me mad.

Yeah most corporates are the same. Two reasons to put up with it 1) Pension - put the max you can in 2) Private healthcare.
oh and being paid !

if you can swing flexible working then it’s the perfect place to have kids (if you want them). Just look keen and crack on

Yes IME everywhere is like this OP. I worked as a cleaner in a school at one phase and still had this shite. It was ridiculous. Doing the job to the best of my ability (I was damned good!) and being asked in annual appraisal how I could do it better. Aaaaaaargh! Drove me insane. I mean it's totally obvious if the job has been done properly or not.

This is how ageism works: have any other responsibilities at all, and you're out.

(Unless you're a man and woman is handling all your adult responsibilities you)

I think (unfortunately) ageism and constant performance appraisals are pretty much the norm most places.

Broadly, yes. I blame LinkedIn!

Sounds like where I work - however, the younger ones take more sick days, longer smoking breaks, hungover, arrive dead on 9 and out the door at 5.

And I don’t blame them, bit yet they are promoted - generally start on the lowest salary and given smaller bonuses -

They think the next level is ‘making it’ when it’s really just another job description!!

See it all before and I’m sad it’s still the same.

My public sector workplace is like this too. It’s all, ‘what are you going to do to develop your career?’ , ‘how do you see yourself developing in this role?’ I mean come on, I earn 30k in a planning department. Im going nowhere.

I think all this non essential apparatus has built up in the workplace. It makes everyone feel really busy because they are constantly administering it but as it’s not actually real work our productivity is on the floor.

Sounds pretty normal to me. I used to struggle keeping my mouth shut about the lack of genuine interest from the company and that it was all a tick box exercise in case we had any grievances. A lot of it is people in higher up roles justifying their time and job. Once I learnt how to play the game, work life got a lot easier.

Corporate companies have to show growth to the investors, shareholders or family that own it. What is measured is what gets done. You can't measure happiness or customer satisfaction if they want more profit every year.

Senior managers have no idea how to measure this so they ask the staff.

You're in a sales role? Sell more.
You're in marketing? Increase social media interaction.
You're in planning? Approve more and bigger projects quicker.

Not take an afternoon to think how you might reduce emissions or bring in solar panels etc

I had a manager who said if I could get someone in for £25k to generate £100k of sales he'd hire them. When I asked for an assistant on £20k to do the team expenses and travel admin, he refused. Even though this would have freed up 25% of senior manager time to find more efficiencies or sales. Because getting expenses and travel plans arranged quicker wasn't a KPI, even if it would have made us more money by freeing up our time.

It's a game. Because the world is run for money not people.

I agree with this..

We don't have an internal HR department and so don't have to worry about things like preferred pronouns etc

Am in a corporate environment- older than you but being made to feel like I can’t do my job after over 30 years in the business! Ours is hiring young staff in lower cost regions and getting rid of those that have higher salaries in some shape or form ( I’m being silent fired). Hanging on but not sure how long for as it’s incredibly stressful! Hope you find something you enjoy!

@Silvertulips I don't they know what to do with me because I've practically turned down promotions which I think I would have had a good chance of getting if I'd 'played the game', due to my experience. I believe I may be the first person they've ever had in the team that's done that.

To me, all I see them doing is largely offering shitty deals that really aren't worth the money. The job title change is nice, but the stress they sometimes pile on people for just 3 extra is just not worth it. Even though I think I'd be more than qualified, and they've hinted at that a few times, they've been incredibly vague about certain things that are required to get senior positions. Given that I've already proved myself, I'm not going to commit to 6 + months doing a manager's job on the off-chance they might promote me in an unstable economic environment.

@Hohohobloodyho Thanks. I think my time might be up as it's so unstable at the company right now - departmental changes and middle managers being made redundant. Anyone who isn't a keen bunny will no doubt be scrutinised.

@Bishopstown

I'm a bit familiar with planning, although not in this role.

I'd really like to think that the development focus is about offering people an opportunity to be trained on the job and helping people's careers, but so often, it's so clearly someone heavy breathing down your neck going - 'So how we can squeeze more out of you for free eh? How can we give you higher responsibilities that we should simply be paying someone extra for?'

I once asked someone 'So if I'm not guaranteed extra pay, and not guaranteed a different title.....why am I doing it?? What's the purpose of this 'development'? He struggled to answer and was almost speechless 😂