After many
years of taking in all kinds of comments and doings of co-employees, I consider
it sufficient. I have reached a limit. And I, on the other hand will never
treat anyone badly because they are younger or unexperienced. The thing is, we
learn from each other. At work we are
in the same boat. And you are only
sinking like the Titanic if you treat
people badly.
I have
worked in Spain, Finland and Portugal, thus I feel entitled to open my mouth.
A light
overview of what it is to be like to work in Portugal for a young adult. People
who are older (as of age) than you
think it is obvious that they are smarter, better and more important. This
is a normal assumption, young adults entering work life or having worked only
for a handful of years think it is the right
of older employees to treat them as if they were somehow non-professional,
unexperienced and not able to form a good opinion. Not in my case, Thank God, but
for other sisters and brothers in business.
I have a friend
working as a consultant, she´s about thirty years old. And guess what, her
everyday struggle is to make people believe in her as a professional. She is
too young.
I have been
told by others that unfortunately in Portugal age is an important thing. And if
there is someone younger who wishes to climb up the ladder he/she will be torn
down by older employees. But that is just insane!? Will the older employee lose
something because another colleague is good at what he/she does?
Also, it is
noted that during your first five years of employment you are at work from
morning till someone throws you out. It is because you need to be seen as a
hard worker. So the amount of hours an employee spends at work is actually
considered a measure for success. People say that even though they would not
have ANYTHING to do, they sit in front of their computers tapping air like they
had something to do? Again, that is insane!? Should we change mentality to; do
your work the best you can and go home. A good way to avoid burnout and de-socialization
btw.
As of
myself, my work fulfills me for the time being. However, in my everyday life I
face the reality of a young employee. Sometimes the bad behavior gets to me, sometimes I imagine the people actually missing the point when they are trying to make themselves important. Their loss.
