Survey: More Older Workers Reporting to Younger Bosses

CareerBuilder has released the results of a survey showing that four out of ten workers over the age of 35 are working for a younger boss. Looking more closely at the numbers, 53% of workers ages 45 and up said they have a boss younger than them, followed by 69% of workers ages 55 and up.

Looking at the challenges posed by the mixing of the generations, CareerBuilder reports that 16% of workers ages 25-34 said they find it difficult to take direction from a boss younger than them, while 13% of workers ages 35-44 said the same. However, only 7% of workers ages 45-54 and 5 percent of workers ages 55 and up indicated they had difficulty taking direction from a younger boss. Among the reasons why working for someone younger than them can be a challenge, those surveyed indicated that, among other things, They act like they know more than me when they don’t, they act like they’re entitled and didn’t earn their position, and they play favorites with younger workers.

"As companies emerge from this recession, it is important for employees to work together and move the business forward, regardless of their age," said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. "With so many different age groups present, challenges can arise. Younger and older workers both need to recognize the value that each group brings to the table. By looking past their differences and focusing on their strengths, workers of any age can mutually benefit from those around them, creating a more cohesive workplace."

Source: CareerBuilder Press Release (February 17, 2010)