I recently addressed the issue of how older workers are being perceived in the workplace and I got a flood of letters from older employees thinking I was mocking them. Basically, I said mature workers have to stop feeling sorry for themselves and start caring less about what their younger colleagues think.
One woman didn’t like my tone in the column but she did like my sentiments on gray hair. I’m a big advocate of gray hair and am trying to make it the new brown, or blonde. I want to be proud of who I am, even as I get older; and frankly I don’t want anymore grooming tasks added to my daily routine. Dying hair, who needs it.
There was one comment she made about one of her coworkers. I thought it was appalling. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Here’s what Kath wrote:
I do appreciate your advice not to focus on my gray hair! A 40-ish woman in my office told me that gray hair is unprofessional! Yikes!
August 16th, 2007 at 11:41 am
if gray hair is unprofessional then i guess 3/4 of the senate and presidential staff are all in the wrong job!! i guess the supreme court should stop working and go sit in a rest home some where. kevin costner should stop acting and tom selleck should stop smiling………
how is it that some people can be soooooooo shallow as to think the color of your hair makes you professional or not?? my gosh! wake up people?
August 21st, 2007 at 1:00 pm
People used to think naturally-worn african-american hair [afros, braids] was unprofessional, and in some circles curly hair is even frowned upon. The real question is whether it’s a corproate-wide emphasis on looking cookie-cutter, or if it’s just one bad egg making wacky, even offensive, comments.
August 21st, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I think you’re definitely right. If it’s an overall cookie-cutter policy it’s probably a workplace you don’t want to be in.
August 29th, 2007 at 2:07 am
I began greying at age 49 and colored my hair for ten years. As my hair grows faster than average I had noticable roots in a few weeks. Also, I was a brunette so the roots showed more due to the contrast. I decided I was tired of the hassle and expense and spent the entire last year going natural. I absolutely love my silver grey {with a few brown streaks} hair and will never ever color it again. So I am older…so what. I’m fit and happy and soon to be 61…I am just glad to be alive and have some hair.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:25 am
I love you Anne. I’m 43 and my gray hairs are starting to infiltrate my brunette hair. My plan, at least for now, is to say yeah to gray! You inspire me!
September 11th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
I will have to articulate for you the main issues with older and younger folks in the work place trying to work together and how difficult it is:
1. Young employees are not focused on satisfying their employers. It is all about the young worker and not his/her employer and not “team building”. The compensation plan pays you for excelling but does not foster team work although ironically that is one of the criteria that you are measured on. Hence, with mixed messages the latest cell phone, IPOD or Blackberry is the rage. Hell, most folks over 45 cannot see the keys on these w/o glasses so what does it matter to have a fancy one? Basic works. Young folks are about status with the misconception that these instruments will make them smarter or appear to be so. It is better to appear busy while doing nothing productive than to actually PLAN anything prior to starting it. You do not PLAN on a computer; you schedule plan.
2. Energy. I will take the older employee experience and intelligence over wasted, misdirected energy anytime. I have seen much misdirected, unanalyzed efforts in many businesses particularly post 9/11 while working with managers that coddle and coach the under 30 crowd.
3. Dumbed down intellect. Since the early 1980s and the advent of the illuminadi(.sp) with President Clinton and the No Child Left Behind coverup, U.S. public schools have moved away from the basics in math and science and embraced a stance of diversity at all cost (lets carry the ignorant). SAT and ACT scores have declined steadily since 1966. The tests have been made easier of late. WRONG DIRECTION in a global economy. Most young adults today are not driven regardless of personality. They are introverted, and expressive to a fault. Spoiled may be the correct word
September 17th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Wow Randy, you raise many great points here.
The education system definitely seems to have changed. I have two young kids just starting in the public school system, and while I’m happy thus far, many parents we know have warned us about the lack of education as a problem given that the teachers spend more time disciplining out of control kids than teaching kids.
November 24th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
I hope gray becomes the next brown. It would be nice to have some of this gray hair become more fashionable. Women fight gray hair more than men, which stress us out, which leads to more gray hair. The unending cycle i guess. Anyway nice thought.