Age and Respect in the Workplace

What does age have to do with respect? Its Ghanaian culture to respect those older than you, whether they respect themselves or not.”The adult is always right” and “Children should be seen and not heard” are two sayings that back this belief. I prefer myself, to live by “Give respect where it is due.”

What about the workplace? It’s common to find security men, drivers and cleaners who are much older than their bosses. How must they feel, being ordered around by people young enough to be their children? Is it fair that this is happening? Is it even an issue?

Even though there are exceptions, the family a person is born into and the opportunities he or she is presented with most often determine how their life will turn out. Some people ‘win’ and some don’t, though it all depends on your definition of winning. Largely, we are made to believe that wealth and material things are indications of successful lives, but someone whose goal is to have a family of her own and achieves this, is a winner in her own right.

Hierarchy is important in every organization. It ensures stability, supervision and continuous growth. In an office where your boss is your junior, there might be some ill-feeling. You’re older than him, what gives him the right to order you about? If you’re nodding in agreement with that last sentence, you’ve got some growing up to do. There’s probably a reason why they’re where they are and why you’re beneath them. It might be luck or it might be that they studied harder and you didn’t, but whatever it is, they’re your boss and the sooner you accept this, the better.

You might be older than your boss, but how you are treated is often up to you. Being humble and effective in your assigned duties will give your supervisor/boss little or no reason to be rude to you. However, if you're ignorant and have a laidback attitude towards your work, you will get what's coming to you (if your boss is doing his job well).

How about the other way round? You’re the boss but you feel awkward reprimanding an employee because they’re older than you. How do you expect to get work done? Unless you don’t really care for your job, you’ll have to step up and shake off the uneasiness. After all, you will get the ultimate blame if something goes wrong; it’s under your watch.

Age shouldn’t determine who gets respect and who doesn’t.   Respect should come naturally, unless of course someone gives you reason to disrespect them, and even then, there are appropriate ways of ironing out these situations. 

Nanama B. Acheampong, Content Editor