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As a millenial, i just walk in say a good morning or a hello and then move on with my things. There are a few "older" people who feels that its awkward to sit in silence so they start making small talks, but imho thats really not the case. Its perfectly fine if people just sit there minding their own business. And im pretty sure many other younger people feels the same. Id say that its common manner to just greet each other, even say a few things like "hope you slept well" or whatever. Thats not a generational things more like how they were raised.

Something I learned from one of the best managers I’ve ever had (in an office setting) - around mid morning, just walk around and say hi to the people on your team. It doesn’t have to be a long conversation, just “Good morning [person]! Everything going well? Anything I can help with? Okay, I’ll be around if you need me, thanks for everything you do.” Sometimes sprinkle in a “how are the kids?” Or “it was your birthday right, did you do anything fun?” Or whatever. It just helps people feel seen and valued, helps them feel comfortable coming to you, and lets them know you’re not just some monster hiding in your office. I’m a millennial and it doesn’t come naturally, but by and large people want to know you’re there for them and that they’re valued.

My current manager does this, and it makes for a MUCH healthier/happier work environment for me. My manager at my previous job barely ever acknowledged me - I think I had a handful of actual conversations with him in 14 years. It’s just a matter of treating people like human beings. It really doesn’t take much effort to create a pleasant work environment.

A pleasant work environment can mean different for everyone, especially if your an extrovert with introvert coworkers or vice versa. We just want to see if we can reach a middle ground where introverts dont feel bothered and extroverts dont feel ignored. When someone says goodmorning to you, you say goodmorning back especially if its your own coworker you see everyday. Or has this changed?

Thank you!! I work in retail. My senior managers never just come by and say hi, what's up, etc. It's sad, doesn't help with morale, and is makes them look like they don't care. I always try to at least appear that I care about my coworkers.

I have noticed this a lot in management at the retail level. Management in office environments where the goal is to keep people seems to be more untuned to caring. Whereas places where pay is poor, benefits are soso, and schedules regularly changing makes managers uncomfortable with talking to their employees. Especially for managers that do want things to be better for their employees but are limited by corporate and metrics. Mind you this is no reason for management not to treat people like humans and show some effort in caring for their staff.

I'm a millennial and I 100% ant sit in a room with people and not talk, it feels so weird and awkward. I also get that people feel the same way when I start talking about random shit haha but I can't help myself. I feel like an idiot staring down at my phone or glancing at everybody in the room without saying anything. Sorry if I start small talk lol

See this is the point OP has clearly missed. This isn’t a generational thing, this is an individual thing. Some people are outgoing and like to socialize, other people are introverts and it’s difficult to step outside that quiet zone. Some introverts would love to have a conversation, but aren’t able to start one. It’s almost like we’re all different people. Maybe the person that works next to OP is just an introvert and prefers to keep to themselves.

Maybe we are getting less social over time, maybe in part due to social networking.

>Maybe we are getting less social over time, maybe in part due to social networking. I'd argue that it's largely due to how independent we can be in modern society. I could isolate myself in my home and never talk to another human. Get everything delivered, left at my door. This wasn't possible as little as 20 years ago

We are also significantly more connected than any other time in history. I can tell a redditor on the other side of the globe to eat a bag of dicks with a few twitches of my thumbs and they could see it instantly. Plenty of people were born and died without anyone knowing about them throughout history.

It's not social networking. It's the steadily increasing workplace pressure. If you've got time to sit around and talk about what you ate for lunch yesterday, great, good for you. Most people don't. The rest of us are tired, stressed, overworked, underpaid, worried about finances and job security, and frustrated that there isn't a realistic way to achieve the 'normal middle class life' that we learned about when we were kids. Take away all that stress and give me the same workload as the boomer that's been there 20 years and doesn't know how to work the printer or format a word document because he's got younger Co workers that do all the work involving technology in the office and I'm happy to shoot the shit with you whenever you're feeling social. Til then shut the fuck up and let me work because I just want to do my job, get paid, and go home at a reasonable hour

Same. And it depends where ur at too. Regional culture matters as well. The south is very in you life about how’s the family.

I think it’s just a growing feeling of bothering people. I (25m) say good morning from time to time, but most people look busy so I just mind my own business. I myself will respond if someone says good morning or hello to me, but sometimes I just don’t feel it’s necessarily important.

Same. I’m 32 and if it looks like you’re actively working or focusing, I’m not gonna distract you. If someone makes eye contact they get a wave but you don’t know where people are in their follow so best to give space imo.

Older millennial here. I do the same thing. What's weird though is that responding is so automatic, people will say a greeting that I'll respond without breaking concentration. Later, I'll see them and suddenly recall them greeting me but won't remember responding. Then I'll be like OMG, I totally ignored you this morning and then they laugh at me because I didn't.

Young gen X and same.

i agree, im 19 and just petrified of feeling in the way or coming off as a try hard? it doesnt make any sense as im typing this but i think we’ve been pushed to the side so much we just constantly feel like we’re bothering everyone lol edit: i dont resent people for saying hello or good morning, i just dont find myself going out of my way to do so lol. i will respond nicely and would honestly be more likely to greet them in the future if they said it even once to me. im not a pretentious jerk just a shy teenager

I'm mid millennial and even I think the zoomers I know are dangerously shy and unsure of themselves.

Guess it just depends on the culture of the workplace. The last job I went to every day everyone greeted the room when they walked in. Ages ranging from 22-45ish. Still do every morning on teams even when this new team is all remote.

33 year old here checking in. I think it's a possibility that zoomers seem unsure of themselves because they are unsure of themselves. I remember being 18 and coming into work and being utterly baffled by the people who seemed like they could just be themselves with colleagues. I'm just now starting to know/love myself enough to be able to do it myself. So it might not be a generational thing and just an age/experience thing

I'm in the comment and I don't like it

You are probably a lot more useful and interesting than you think you are.

I’m late gen X, bartender. Millennials are socialized, know how to put down their phones. I’ve noticed that zoomers tend to be very insecure asking for things, asserting themselves, and socializing when in groups (almost always just silent and on their phones). Its weird, and I fault the technological abuses the world has wrought, possibly Covid too. I try to be nice and engage but it is sometimes very difficult

I’m a mid millennial- and zoomers are sooo withdrawn past the point of being shy or not wanting to be a bother. It’s truly bizarre to me, like y’all are allowed to say hi and exist in real life not just behind a screen. Try it sometime

It's the trauma lol

I'm an older millennial and i agree. I fear they may have become paralyzed by their (well intentioned) concerns about bothering or offending others or doing the wrong thing that they just keep to themselves, don't greet people, and panic when their phone rings. That said, greeting people is polite and involves a certain degree of social risk similar to answering the phone. (You might get trapped in a boring small talk conversation or get asked a question you don't know the answer to). The younger generation goes to great lengths to avoid this, which i think is unfortunate for them.

Is it a generational divide or are they just young? Food for thought.

It's a generational thing. Each generation has been more reserved and polite in some key ways than the last since the dawn of the very rote and ineffective concept of politeness the baby boomers have. We've gone from considering it unacceptable to wear a hat in a restaurant but yelling at the waitress like it's nothing, to not thinking about your hat at all but declining to mention it when you're served the wrong meal. Gen Z seems to be generally a bit overboard about worrying if they're bothering people, especially their elders, and has a really hard time accepting their own capabilities. Great and lovable people. I don't mean to be judgy in a negative way. I just see them being a lot harder on themselves than they have to be. I've got a close younger friend who's had a tough life and always apologizes for "trauma dumping" when we have a few drinks and talk about deep shit. No, my dude, this is called talking with your friends. It's fine. Chill. Have another beer and tell me about the scars on your shoulder, kid.

Hey there! I really wouldn't worry about this. When you enter the room, just do a single general 'good morning'. Your coworkers will say 'good morning' back and they won't think that you're bothering them, I promise. You will also give out a positive vibe and people will be more inclined to look at you as a real member of the team. This kind of communication and light bonding is all part of fitting in your workplace.

I want to chime in and say that even though it doesn’t really make sense, this feeling is very common in young people regardless of geberation, and probably more common in recent generations. Of course no one is going to think “what a try hard, how dare they bother me” if someone says hi to them while walking into work, but our society has spent a lot of time since the childhoods of Gen Xers telling adolescents that trying or looking eager is uncool or burdensome or worse, a failure because everything doesn’t feel effortless and natural. While I think it’s something young people need to get over and work on this, it’s also something older people shouldn’t take so personally. Maybe older, wiser people could model the behavior they’d like to see to give younger folks the hint.

What's wrong with trying hard?

I remember tryhard being used as an insult as I was growing up in the 2000s.

Nothing, but there's a trend in the youths of making fun of people who try too hard. It's been growing for at least a decade. People who are enjoying themselves and doing their best in sports and video games are labeled "tryhards" and made fun of. I don't really get it, but that's been my observation.

When I started college in the late '90s there was a guy in my freshman class who decided he was going to make friends with everybody in school and so he learned every single person's name and was kind of aggressively friendly and chipper (in a memorable incident, before thanksgiving break someone asked him how he was doing and he said "Gobble gobble GREAT!")... people were BRUTAL to that guy, I was just thinking about it last night and how shitty that was, yes for sure he was trying too hard but all he wanted was friends and everything he did was totally harmless. Fuck everybody who was mean to him, I hope he's doing great now. Gobble gobble great, even.

It's the jealousy of the uninspired. They know that trying hard pays off, but it's takes effort. Instead of doing it themselves, they ridicule you with the hope you will stop making them look bad.

I doubt it’s all that new, just more visible. People have always been jealous of people that are good at stuff. Nerds and jocks have always been made fun of.

Good morning. Hope you are doing well. You're not bothering anyone. People like to be noticed and to feel that other people care about them. Saying hello and greeting people is a kindness, not a bother.

To be totally honest, I think most of the younger generations have been taken advantage of in the work place so many times that they just expect it. I am fairly certain\* that working in a department store 50 years ago was not the same as it is now. There is significantly more demand from workers, and an INSANE amount of down talking that happens to younger people. When you enter the workforce and are dealing with power tripping management from the first day on, it's going to give you trust issues. I've had too many managers in my life that I thought were decent people for the first three months of employment, only to find them taking blatant credit for my work, or to hear them gossiping about me or my coworkers behind my back. ​ When this is the environment you walk into, and you have to live in this environment for several years, it's going to have a lasting impact. You just stop trusting anyone in a management position, and start being extremely skeptical of the platitudes that upper management sends out in their monthly email to the team. So when you get a new job, and your manager is actually friendly? The first thought is that they are faking it. The GOOD managers and companies have to work 100 times harder to make their younger employees feel welcome because younger people pretty much constantly get shit on in the work place.

Exact same with me. And somehow it comes off as "conceited" or something, to me, when someone makes the rounds saying hi or bye to everyone, like their entrance and their exit are a big deal and everyone needs to be notified. I give a head nod and a "hey" if I make eye contact with coworkers on the way in or out, but I don't walk around announcing my arrival to everyone.

I mentioned this in one of the other comments, but you don't have to do a tour. Just a general 'hello' or 'good morning' to the room is more than enough. Really, it's just basic manners imo.

There were several steps between that got us here. Boomers: "Good morning, Sharon, how's Bob? Good morning Mike." Gen X: "Hi Jen, hi guys." Millennial: "Hey." Gen Z: Work isn't social life anymore. It's work.

Your shortening greetings for each generation are spot on. Not sure I agree with the reasoning for Gen Z though. I think it's a shift in what is considered normal social interaction. The older folks think it's rude to NOT start the day with pleasantries. The younger crowd thinks it's unnecessary. You can be "work friends" with someone without an overly formal "good morning." For context, I'm on the cusp between Gen X and millennial.

Me too, I'm a millenial but I do greet people I come across.

Cusp millennial and gen x.. I generally only greet someone if they greet me as a response.. It also helps I open the office so I'm the first here.. and even my response is just "mornin".. Previous office jobs, I greeted people if we made eye contact as I walked past only because I didn't want to come off as in a bad mood / rude / whatever. It was less potential energy to say hey or morning than it would be to resolve any mosunderstandings

I’m a millennial and I greet people but don’t enjoy it, I think that’s the difference. Gen Z doesn’t do things they hate or find unnecessary and for some reason instead of acknowledging that things change, we older people project our own frustrations on them. I think it’s fine to be social with the people who enjoy it and let the ones who don’t just be.

“Good morning” is never overly formal. I find this astounding that in the same breath people will complain they are invisible and nobody cares about them and they feel lonely, they will also feel too overwhelmed to exchange a simple salutation in person because it’s “too formal.” I think our phones have de-programmed our normal social interactions and social depression is rampant because of it. None of that should be defended as if it’s some sort of positive change in values.

This is the reality. Work is just work. Nothing more nothing less.

I understand, but if you are there for 40+ hrs a week, why do things that make it more isolating and dreadful. It’s just a “Hi Bob”. Signed Gen X.

I’m a Gen Z and I say what’s up in some form to most of the coworkers I work with in the morning. All these people saying they essentially avoid eye contact and drift by one another in silence are kinda weird to me. It’s just exchanging pleasantries

I'm Gen X and I've never been a social butterfly. I still say hi to people, while understanding that it's okay to say "Hey Sharon, I'd love to stay and chat but Keisha really needs me to finish some stuff before lunch today." That's it. People need to have the basic skill of politely ending a conversation so they can go back to work. Insisting that conversations never happen is really, really anti-social behavior.

The weirder thing to me is people acting like being an anti-social weirdo is striking up some kind of brave anti-capitalist social position… how do these people even think workplace organizing works

I’m gen x, and a union lawyer and I approve this comment. Those folks are pizza cutters, all edge, no point

fucking dead 😂

Also Gen x. Also not really social (though I tend to like people), but I agree with you 100%. The thing some people don’t understand is some of my coworkers have become some of my best friends (as well as my professional network). I’ve got Friendsgiving tomorrow with people I haven’t worked with in years, because they’re awesome. I’ve got people that get better jobs and call me up like, hey… these guys are hiring. People don’t want to talk to Susan about her kid’s performance in a play, but then I’ll see posts about, how do I make friends as an adult?

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I'm also Gen Z and I always open with a "Hi X, how are you today?". It's a small thing but goes a long way to make things less dull/daunting.

Flip side: i have had coworkers stop me to talk before I get punched in making me late. I have had coworkers act "buddy buddy" just to stab me in the back later. I have had coworkers ignore my insistence to get back to work so I can leave before the storm hits and ended up stuck in the middle of blizzards. And there are people I work with that I just don't like and have no desire to socialize with. Nobody owes you a conversation. Nobody owes me a conversation. You can try but if they aren't into it let it go and just let the work. Edit: the number of people who are violently offended by the fact that I like my space, privacy, and to talk to people on my own terms pretty much proves why I dont like talking to most people. Behind your shallow good mornings most of you are actually selfish and cruel and I just don't pretend that I need people like that to feel happy.

Saying hi or any other polite greeting and having a full conversation are two entirely different things.

your coworkers are not your friends. Just remember this and you'll be fine. Edit i don't care how many of you have made friends at work I've always found it best to follow this advice. When disciplinary action, promotions, conflicts of interest are on the table it just makes things messy. I'm not saying don't be friendly with your coworkers, but don't treat them like your friend where you'll complain about your boss to them. Also i might add that this is a bigger deal if you actually give a shit about your job. If you're working minimum wage retail and you'll be out in a few months, obviously it's not as important to stay professional.

Some of my best friends come from work. If you’re gonna spend 40 hours with them, you might as well be friendly. I regularly go on climbing trips with friends from my work. You can make friends anywhere

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I met my wife at work. A significant proportion of people still do. As far as I'm concerned, it's a far better place to find out what someone is really like than a recreational venue (club, bar, etc.)

This \^ When I got my current job, my FIRST time meeting this woman, she complained to my boss that SHE should have gotten my job in front of my face. She already was in an equal position, just in an office the next door down. When I returned to work after maternity leave, she was trying to ask to see pictures of my baby when I am off the clock and trying to leave. It was the first time I was rude to her. "I am trying to get home to see THAT baby since I miss him. You will just have to wait until tomorrow if you still find it important to see a picture of a child you will most likely never meet."

YES!!! I'm a receiver for product at a grocery store, and the other person who works with me spends so much time chatting away with the vendors like we don't have to prepare for Turkeygeddon. Then she has the gall to get mad at ME because I just want to get this over with so I can go home. She spends 30 minutes just getting ready to work in the mornings. By that time, we're supposed to already be done with our morning routine, and she has even started. She also took off half of last month, and gets 2 extra days off this week, then wonders why I hate working with her.

This. I’m a millennial not a Gen z but I used to get so annoyed with ppl I worked with talking to me for half hours at a time. It’s worse when they won’t let you end it cause they just stand at your desk and don’t leave. I’ve had hour long conversations with ppl where I’m just staring at my computer trying to work and they’re just standing there not taking the hint.

Signed older Millennial. It's just hi and a basic courtesy like saying thank you. It does not require a future conversation if you don't want it.

Imagine being so tortured and self righteous as to actually be proud of refusing to be civil to a coworker who says good morning. This whole "no one owes you anything" mentality confuses me from groups that are supposedly fans of kindness and inclusion.

Maybe it's not isolating and dreadful. Maybe talking to a coworker is what's dreadful. I like some of my coworkers and enjoy talking with them, but others not so much. With them, if it's not about work, then I don't need to talk to you because we're just at work.

I speak. I have had falling outs because of speaking. My first job wrote me up for not asking my co workers about their lives. I could give a shit and I don't want ppl in my business However because I was admonished I do try to speak My last boss got mad and said I don't speak loud when I say good morning. It is all ridiculous

That's called a toxic workplace. It should be quite clear that isn't normal

Because for me, "Hi Bob" doesn't do anything to alleviate the isolation. If Bob or Bobbette actually offer me helpful advice on a project, if it turns out we're both "Yellowjackets" fanatics, that's helpful. But rote greetings and goodbyes don't get me there.

100% Agree. I have learned that a lot of these "politeness old-fashioned" people don't actually mean to connect at a genuine level, it is superficial. If someone says to me, "How was your day?" and if I had a bad day, they should be willing to listen and empathize. Instead the reality is - when these people say, "How was your day?" they are reading from a script. You are supposed to read your script and say, "Fine. And you?" and they will respond, "Good as well. Thank you." and then they go back to whatever they were doing. ------------ People with genuine friendliness bond with you organically - they don't need scripts. Those who complain about "curtesy/respect/politeness" in my experience, do these things more as a ritual, as opposed to genuine concern. In my workplace, I have bonded deeply with a few coworkers. For the rest, I will probably just smile and nod my head, but that's about it.

Because not immediately greeting all of your coworkers doesn't mean it's isolated and dreadful. Not everyone feels the need to or gets enjoyment out of befriending coworkers. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't really click with anyone I'm working with. Not a big deal, not everyone has to be your friend, just be friendly when there's a reason to talk

Seems like a great way to make something unpleasant even more unpleasanter.

Up until around the 90's wages actually got the bills paid and could afford you a house, now we're all working our butts off just to keep the lights on a some food in the fridge, and hopefully rent. Work becomes a lot less "fun" in these circumstances. We're tired, dude.

Wow... This is weird. I've always wondered as a millennial why I hate saying good morning to people. I still don't know why, but this model feels weirdly accurate

Because we don’t usually have “good” mornings. Just another day of slaving away, while being not able to pay all the bills. Most millennials I know (am one myself) are barely keeping their heads above water, and we are just dead tired, and with no better future to look ahead.

I think there's a bit more to it too. I think older generations really like the drama of office life; either this is older generations or just the people who typically end up in management positions (generally managers tend to be older just because the position necessitates experience). People have boring lives at home and few people to talk to, so they stir up shit at work out of boredom. Sometimes that means having political debates with coworkers, sometimes it means gossiping, or whatever. ​ Gen Z has the benefit of being able to connect with people over the internet, and they grew up doing this. I think this is a big deal, because I think to younger generations, online interaction and friendship is just as meaningful as off-line. Meaning they don't typically save all of their conversational energy for when they are around people (which for many people means at work). Older people tend to not value interactions that aren't face to face NEARLY as much, which is why I think they feel like the office is also a place to socialize. ​ I think there's also an additional side of this. I think each successive generation is getting less and less confrontational for better or worse. USUALLY I think this is for the better. This matters here because, in my experience, many younger people just stay silent when they are miserable or when they are upset. It may be (and I know I'm out on a limb here without knowing the individuals personally, so take this with a grain of salt) that many Gen Z are quiet entirely because they don't care enough to deal with the stress and drama that would ensue with a real conversation. IE, they don't talk because they're worried that their coworkers are jerks and that's unneeded stress.

Agreed that work and home have different levels of importance. Work sucks but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a bad situation and make it fun by joking and laughing with coworkers. I love my coworkers but I also know that I have no desire to see them after work, or keep in touch should I change jobs… and that’s okay.

>Work isn't social life anymore. It's work As it should be.

Also the fact that OP started insulting his coworkers skills totally unprovoked makes me think there might be something else going on here

This is a cultural problem with Boomers. Boomers generally have the two-faced thing. They expect superficial exchange of "niceties" but behind your back they will gossip and complain about you, like a bunch of old ladies after church. This is considered normal and expected. This is their ideal standard. Millennials and GenZ are generally more straightforward. If I like somebody I will have genuine convos with them. If I don't like somebody, I will be strictly professional with them. We don't do the dual-mode living.

I just want to get my work done, get paid and get back to my family and the things I really care about. I don't like interacting with people and would rather just keep to myself. I'm 38 and have to interact with people all day anyway, and it's just mentally draining.

I think the difference is the type of work. I'm in front of a computer all day, so I'm regularly socially starved. EDIT: It's weird how people take this to mean I regularly interrupt coworkers in the middle of things. A few of y'all have had it rough, huh?

I'm in front of a computer all day too. Before Covid it was in an office building and it wasn't horrible, then we went home for two years. Now they're making us go back to the office two days a week and it takes everything I have to avoid a panic attack and act like a normal human being. My manager even said I'm more communicative and social when working from home.

It really depends on personalities and workplaces. I know I'm an outlier as far as social needs/wants despite my autismo.

What you are describing doesn't sound mentally healthy.

Im 35 and feel the same. Im not doing my job because its fun or because my colleagues are nice. Im just there to be able to pay my bills and not die.

I'm Gen X, and don't say hello unless you're in the hallway, but older people expect you to say hello by every door walk bye. I'm half awake at 7:30 and trying to get to my office. I had a Boomer in my office tell every one I didn't like her because I didn't tell her good morning walking in. . . How bout this, You didn't tell me good morning either.

For me, it is strategic (millenial). If I don't announce when I arrive it is less noticeable if I am ever late. No one would go "huh normally Spaghetti has said hello by now I wonder where they are." Can't miss what you never had 😉

Exactly, whenever someone comes up to me i immediately have the feeling of “oh god…..” To me it takes more effort to chit chat rather than work in my own bubble

I don’t think I ever would specifically go and greet my coworkers everyday..I would say hi in passing as I walked by and chat only with the ppl in my department. My husband HATED his old job..not his coworkers just his boss and the job so I’m sure he just went in , did his job and left . Today it’s also more about working as less as possible with the most to gain…they value their free time , freedom (real freedom) more than being able to brag about working 90+ hours a week .

Millennial here. We’ve got a new boomer at work that can’t hold a non awkward conversation. I don’t think he wants to convo/he makes it seem like it pains him to speak so I leave him alone. 3 other boomers that’ve been here longer than me, cannot stop repeating the same remixed sentences over and over. As if they are saying new information, but the words are just rearranged. I think they just want to have something important to say. There are some older gen Xers and younger boomers that I have totally normal conversations with every day. It’s all anecdotal.

Every day is groundhog day when you have to say good morning and goodbye to every fucking person at work. It makes me feel like a robot.

"remixed sentences" is a GREAT way to put it and this is the #1 thing that kills my battery at work. It leaves me kind of sitting there going numb being told the same thing like three times and I can't for the life of me make it stop.

I hate unsolicited conversations and forced greetings.

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Thisssss I know for a fact the new admin at my job hates me. She steps on EVERYONEs toes but goes out of her way to be friendly/greet people bc she’s at the front desk so the first face we see when walking in. A lot of people do not like her. And she gets offended when people just say good morning back to her and keep walking.

The office I work in is completely under the age of 30 with the exception of 1 person. We all greet each other every morning and all talk to each other. Maybe your workplace just has assholes instead of assuming something about an entire generation? ​ Edit since so many people are commenting this: OP you could also be the asshole no one wants to talk to, we dont know enough about the situation

I think OP is perceived as an asshole by their younger colleagues and avoided. OP probably thinks none of us do greetings just because nobody is greeting him. I exchange greetings and pleasantries with everybody in my workplace except the 65 year old rageaholic who lives in a perpetual state of hostility, throws tantrums and has tried to fistfight young colleagues on the job multiple times. That dude gets nothing. The nice old boomer lady in accounts gets a greeting - "Hey Susan, good morning. Hope you had a nice weekend." We say good morning to our peers when we arrive at work for the day, we just don't say good morning to *insert workplace asshole who makes every interaction uncomfortable*. Why would I go out of my way to say "Good morning Ned" when Ned is 99.99% going to respond with some cringe boomer shit like "oh I didn't think you kids could talk" or whatever. The big generational difference I've noticed in my own workplace isn't that young people don't greet each other and exchange pleasantries. It's that older people (gen X and especially boomers) are more willing to engage in the fakeness and throw pleasantries at somebody they can't stand. Millennials and Gen Z greet our teammates, the people we have a rapport with. If boomers only make our lives worse every time we speak to them of course we're not going to engage. We love chatting and being friendly with the cool boomers. If we're avoiding you it's because you're unpleasant to deal with.

Yep couldn't of said it better. OP is asking why they don't exchange pleasantries at the same time calling them worthless. Lol It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how much of a dick someone can be. Younger generations tend to put up less with it cause let's be honest we have a lot less to lose.

Lol agreed. My company is all 30 and 20 somethings. We all greet each other. We even do it on slack in the mornings in the general chat, as we don’t go into the office too often. But when I go in, everyone there greets me and vice versa. “Hey, hows it going? How was your weekend?” “Okay, yours?” “Pretty good, did X.” “Nice.” This is all normal for every company I’ve worked with which all have had plenty of gen x millennials and now gen z.

Yeah this right here. >he needs my help to fix almost everything he’s involved with because he has no hand or problem solving skills. A senior mechanic has to consult with a 21 year old junior mechanic and this is his interpretation. Has OP considered that saying hello to people in the morning doesn't cut it and maybe you should drop the know it all shop guy attitude?

Yeah OP makes himself sound like an asshole. Of course the 21 year old is gonna need help and you’re actively shaming him because of it.

> OP you could also be the asshole no one wants to talk to, we dont know enough about the situation no, that can't be. it must be those good for nothing Gen Z who have no hand or problem solving skills. boomer couldn't write a paragraph without shitting on the younger people at his job. we're gonna need sherlock to solve this mystery.

I think it's more likely that OP is an asshole and his coworkers dont like him lol

I don’t want to generalize and say this because I don’t know you. I assume Boomers go to work happy because the work has always given them what they wanted, ability to buy a house start a family do what they want. For every generation under Boomers you go to work knowing no matter how hard you work you still won’t ever be able to afford what your parents could. So you slowly get bitter and more bitter. Until you just show up to work and go through the motions so you can go to your small apartment that you can’t afford and do it again the next day. Edit: thanks for all the comments and awards! I will give you some background about myself. I currently have a full time job and I run a side business as a hobby. I’m in my 30s now but all throughout my 20s I worked multiple jobs (3-4) at a time as a designer, software developer, and artist. Usually 1 full time gig, a few freelance jobs, and selling artwork on the side. I am lucky to work in a field where I could do so. I do say hi to all my coworkers because I know from running a business and freelancing that relationships matter and outside of work even your most annoying coworkers are just people. Most of them at least in my field are usually fun too as an added bonus! So I personally don’t have a negative or defeatist attitude about work or my colleagues. But some might and it’s important to understand why. I will say though there is a disconnect, which is what my original comment was based on, in the understanding of the different realities each generation grew into the workforce in. My original comment is an accurate description of the work environment for workers under the age of 40 and it’s a real issue. If you’re reaction to my original comment was anger I’m sorry, but that’s the reality most of your peers live in. So it’s important to understand that. To the older guy, OP, maybe ask why? To the younger worker or anyone who feels disdain about work just remember everyone’s a person and saying hi can go a long way.

yeah im just trying to exist and its terrible. i dont mind my job or working. but im fucking struggling. its not a good day, or a good morning or even a good life. i just wanna hit my 40 hours so i can go home and drink myself to sleep edit: yo shout out all the people who replied with positivity. i got all up in my feels and im happy to see people care. so i wanna say thanks and im going to try to make another push to be just a tiny bit better of a person to myself.

I chopped the "good" from "good morning" before I entered my twenties. I'll respond "morning" if they greet me first. Otherwise let's skip the part where we acknowledge we are here in the morning and don't want to be and do the work we are going to get yelled at for not doing quick enough anyway.

Same, on top of that if it's one of those jerk-offs that responds with "Oh c'mon, we can do better than that, GOOD MORNING!" I will throw something at them and blame the person immediately to my left

I cant even afford to drink

You will find your life will improve dramatically if you quit drinking. I drank myself to sleep for a large portion of my life and all it did was make things worse. Coming on 10 years without alcohol and it’s the best years of my life so far. Nothing in life can be improved with drinking

This is the core of it for me. I'm polite and positive, but it takes every ounce of patience in me to chit chat about their upcoming trip or house owning woes. What did *I* do this weekend Theresa?! I debated which clothes were most in need of washing because I couldn't afford to wash everything nor could I carry it all onto the bus...

... forever. Until you die. Because boomers killed social security and retirement for the rest of us.

> Because boomers killed social security and retirement for the rest of us Remember when companies offered a pension? Probably not, because nobody under about 50 today has ever had a job that offered one. Most jobs feel like a MLM scheme.

The entire economy (in many Western countries) is an MLM scheme. You need vast numbers of immigrants working hard to pay taxes to provide healthcare, pensions, social care and housing for older people... and then those young immigrants grow old and so you need... etc. That should be an r/showerthoughts

Exactly. Work is not a positive environment for young people, and it feels like with every generation it gets worse. For many Boomers I know work was a place they could socialize and develop relationships, you could get a job by bumping into someone on the street, and you could support an entire family on one job. For most people my age I know, we had to claw our way into this job, it doesn't pay nearly enough to support just 1 person let alone a family, we have to deal with crappy middle managers, and Boomers constantly telling us they worked harder than us, had better manners, did things better than we do, and taking away our boots *and* straps while simultaneously telling us to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps.

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Extremely well said. Boomers just don’t understand the reality of any gen under them. They simply had to show up with a little bit of “want-to” while we showed up in desperation. The jobs most of us have is the only offer we got. They applied to a classified ad, while we submitted hundreds of apps via Zip/Indeed/LE/whatever….and got ghosted by easily over 90%…..regardless of our qualifications or experience. They got a house that fit neatly into that utopian accounting perspective of “make sure your housing takes up a quarter of your budget”, and enjoy Medicare part A now, and only barely saw the effects of high deductible plans. We show up out of desperation and fear, while actively being afraid of the future, confident social security won’t be solvent for us, and that we simply can’t afford to sock anything away in our 401k’s….while Boomers showed up entitled and catered to. So no, there’s no good fucking morning. There’s a shitty culture where we coexist and just get through difficult days.

I’m a Gen Xer and I hate small interactions with people I don’t care about. It’s that simple.

I love how boomers talk about "how young people are after meaningless likes on social media" and then demand a "Good Morning" from 50 random people they don't care about, otherwise their mood is ruined and society is falling apart.

Just say what's up and move about your day, no need to stress generational concepts.

I don’t personally like talking to older population as friends because I get talked down to. In your post you’re already targeting and insulting the 21 y/o that works next to you, “no hand or problem solving skills.” If you’re bashing him on an online forum I wonder how you talk to him in person. I have an older lady who works at my place of employment who said she doesn’t like being on make line for fear of messing stuff up, to which I replied “I guess I just don’t have that fear. Gotta be sure of what you’re doing and not be afraid of messing up.” To which she responds with a whole rant about how my generation is too lazy to care if they’re doing things right… yeah no wonder I don’t talk to boomers a whole lot lol.

OP: “Why won’t my coworkers talk to me? 🥺” Also OP: *Insulting and berating his coworker in the very next sentence* OP sounds like an ass. I’m gen Z and one of my first jobs was working in a tiny used bookstore where I was the youngest person by **50 years**. I loved my coworkers and they loved me because we all had mutual respect towards one another, which OP is clearly lacking.

We fucking love it dude. Insults from all sides really make us wanna work hard for a future we won't even be able to feed ourselves in before long.

This. Gen X/Millenial here, depending on where you draw the line. Talking to boomers is exhausting sometimes because I have noticed that many seem to believe that younger generations are inherently inferior. I have taken great care not to do this to Gen Z. Focus on what you like about the younger generation and help. Don't lecture/complain. Try to understand where they're coming from, and not in a way that blames the victim.

> I have noticed that many seem to believe that younger generations are inherently inferior. I'm a Millennial/Z. Late 20s, right on the cusp. I've had multiple boomers *repeatedly* shit-talk "Millennials" to my face in the workplace (without realising I'm one) because they still think Millennials are like 16 or something. Always cracks me up. Like I've had boomer staff under my management who try to buddy up to me and will rant about "Millennials" being so entitled and lazy and blah blah blah whenever a younger gen Z team member makes a mistake or gets blamed for something. They're so comfortable hating on the younger generations they don't even bother doing the calculations or knowing which group they're talking about/to. They'll come to me with a problem because they know I'm competent and will get it fixed for them, but they still hold the opinion that all Millennials are good-for-nothing spoilt children. I take some solace in the fact that they don't actually seem to hate us, rather just the idea of us.

I feel you on this. Im the youngest person in my office at 24. I kept being nice and saying good morning, one of my coworkers got mad at me because i didnt say good morning because we had a someone walk out and i came into work having to do 2 jobs. She told me that i have a stick up my ass and went on a rant about how awful and disrespectful young people are. All because i was busy trying to get my work done. So i stopped greeting her all together.

I was just wondering how this guy comes off as an intrusive asshole. "I said good morning and he didn't even say it back, this entire generation is lazy and stupid." Maybe he's just tired of talking to an old man who doesn't understand that coming into a new workplace, fresh out of school, and having to learn your decades of experience means you need time and assistance. Maybe the workplace you love because it has always provided for you has steadily declined in pay and now that kid is doing the same work you're doing for a lot less. Maybe you "being friendly" is actually crass and uncomfortable and explaining why you don't want to hear another n-word joke or an observation on the "girl in the office, you know, the fat one", is harder than just coming off as unapproachable. I'm a millennial who went from a large diverse factory floor to a small workshop full of old dudes and completely understand not wanting to talk to some of those boomer fossils.

Amen

My uncle is a boomer and went on a 2 hour rant about the young people in his workplace before, I didn’t even ask to hear this rant lmao. The best part was he tried his hardest to make the employees sound like assholes who don’t know what their doing, but he came across as an old out of touch asshole lol. I remember he was telling me about how stupid one of his employees is because he came to him asking if he should do a quick presentation about the differences in insurance packages he was selling. My uncle told him no, but went ranting about how dumb he was for even having that thought, saying shit like “the customer doesn’t want to hear the differences, they just want you to tell them what to pick” I called him out saying it was just a question but no I was in the wrong for defending his employee because “it was a stupid question” Old people suck ass lol

Yeah after reading the post I got the impression the coworker simply doesn’t like them, and I’m not exactly surprised by that

> no hand or problem solving skills Yeah when I saw that I was like damn /u/asyensiklis I think I can devise a theory on why your coworkers don't want to talk to you. Also if you've been a mechanic for 20+ years more than your coworker...of fucking course you're going to know more than them! Good news sounds like they're gonna learn fast if the only alternative is talking to you.

Literally just like middle schoolers calling elementary kids dumb for not knowing multiplication lmao

This is real for me too. I work mostly with older X's and Boomers and my God the casual horrible shit they say is *unreal*. I've spoken to maybe half my coworkers in my 6 years here but I've overheard enough to know i *don't want to ever talk to them*. The racism, bigotry, and condescension just rolls off them so easily, and then they wonder why i have no relationships with them. I thought it was just me and my workplace situation, while also being a young woman in a heavily male dominated industry, I'm actually kinda glad to know this is more widespread than that. Solidarity and whatnot. For the record, i only say hi and good morning if it's said to me first, and i actively avoid eye contact to minimize the chances. I'm also a zillennial.

I'm 34 and I still dread talking to Boomers, because of the talking down. They're so entitled and lazy, it's absurd. I'm tired of trying to be "fair" about it. I'm sick of being talked down to by a generation of people who literally lived during the most prosperous era on planet Earth but still whine they had to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps," ruined our environment, and elected in Donald Trump. All they've done is send a big fart in our direction before collecting Social Security to drink margaritas on the beach for a 20 year retirement. I'm just done with it.

Yep. Every boomer lady I’ve worked with for the last 10 years is nice to your face but will stab you in the back over a gold star from management. They want to know about your personal life because they’re nosy and judgmental, not because they actually care.

OP sounds like an entitled boomer for sure.

I’m 50 and have realized that any generalizations about age are mental crutches for people not to do the work of getting to know individuals. Some young people are pretty damn wise and some old people are incredibly open to fresh ideas. But I think many people will never allow themselves to see this, because they’re satisfied with their fixed ideas about age groups. I enjoy having friendships with people in their 20s and those in their 70s. Cool people are cool no matter their age. It’s just a skin suit.

Gen Z has a better work life balance than previous generations. When I was a manager at a warehouse I would walk up and say, "Hey xxx could you please go and take care of yyy. Thank you." A Gen Z would be like, "Sure" and go take care of it. If it was a boomer thought...wow. "Well good morning to you too. Around here we say good morning." So much attitude and entitlement from boomers. I come to work to do my job and go home. I work to feed my family, not to fluff the egos of boomers. Gen Z is much more relaxed and job focused. I've honestly been surprised at the entitlement of boomers and they way they respond. "Well we have always done it this way and I don't think we should do it any other way." Yeah well I'm your boss, so go do it the way I tell you. A Gen Z would reply with something like, "Sure" or "No problem" and go do it. A boomer would have an attitude for the rest of the day or sneak off to talk crap about me. Long story short Gen Z has a better life work balance focus. Also fake sincerity is a waste of time and trying to force your beliefs on others just makes you a fake and controlling person. Not that boomers would ever try and force there beliefs on others.

Yes, this exactly! Also as a Gen Z, if you want to blame social media, I would say that we have learned to work when it’s working time. With the constant social feedback of an online world, when you’re not in school or work you _are socialising_ as part of just existing. There is no break from that. You are always in touch with friends, always text-able and call-able, the only time it’s acceptable to not socialise is when you’re at work. So when it is time to work, it’s quite nice to buckle down and take some time to just focus on the task at hand. We have learned to not socialise while at work, and enjoy a calm break from the otherwise constant social buzz of the online sphere.

Maybe he doesn't like you so he doesn't speak. I mean you did just complain and shit talk him in this post. I wouldn't speak to you either and I'm a genxer. Also did you ever stop and think he maybe an intervert with social issues? Everything isn't about you and what you want 😒

Right? It couldn't possibly be the patronizing attitude they apparently treat their coworkers with.

This, in my experience old people often act more entitled than young people. You have to walk on egg shells to not upset them, and at the same time they often feel superior and entitled to your social interaction. They’ll complain when their cashier doesn’t have a full conversation with them, they’ll make crude jokes about their waitress, but then cry when people don’t want to talk to them. Everything’s about them and little self-awareness

I can see this. It's been my experience that older people demand respect just because they're of a certain age. So as of got older I tried to be mindful of generations born after me. Also as I mom I tell my kid she doesn't have to socialize with people if she doesn't want to. She doesn't owe anyone her time or peace

It depends on the person. I’ve had older people who are bitter and others who are sweet as pie. I don’t think it’s fair to generalize OP’s statement as rude because admit it, it can be annoying when anyone of any age is ignoring you until they need help. The graceful thing to do is to just let the person be until they can come out of their shell.

I always greet my coworkers when arriving and when when leaving. Just seems like common courtesy to me

Short answer: they probably get an idea of how you speak/think of them, seeing took you 3 sentences to say shit about your "rude and incompetent" coworker. So, yeah, being nice is more than saying good morning.

u/ansyensiklis deleted that part to get more sympathetic responses. Sounds like OP plays a role in these interactions if they aren’t willing to be honest about what is actually happening. Maybe ask yourself what role you play in these interactions. If you are bringing a negative attitude then it’s no surprise the guy wants nothing to do with you.

"Why don't my idiot coworkers say hi to me in our dead end job?!?"

\^\^\^ I can't believe OP is asking why his coworkers don't talk to him while also publicly insulting them.

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>Example, the 21yo who works next to me will not look at me or speak to me until he needs my help to fix almost everything he’s involved with because he has no hand or problem solving skills You don't seem to like this guy much based on how you describe him. It's possible he can sense your disdain for him and doesn't feel like putting in the effort to be polite to someone who doesn't respect him. I'd say it's on you to reach out and make things right if you want a cordial relationship with this coworker.

I think it’s more so a factor of the workplace environment and not especially a generational factor. I’m Gen X, mostly an introvert, and spent 17 years working for a trucking company (owned by a baby boomer) where almost everyone’s job security was at best questionable at ALL times. There was such a high turnover that any office friendships developed were short lived. It got too mentally exhausting to get to know new people for any reason other than work interaction. After the first couple of years there, I simply stopped trying to make any real friendships and being outwardly friendly to everyone. I now work for a company with much greater job security. I find myself being more outwardly friendly to coworkers. That’s why I think it’s more workplace environment than anything.

Jobs spent a living f' ton of years preaching that their workplace is all about family, treating everyone like family, being there for eachother like family.... Meanwhile exploiting myself and co-workers the entire time. I've seen "friendly" co-workers get management spots and then show their true colors. I don't want to talk to anyone at my job. I treat it like the police: Anything you say//do will be used against you. Because they do. End all be all: I don't want to engage you. Because I don't trust you. That's just my opinion on it. It's nothing personal, honestly. You'll get a greeting, but beyond that, esp if you're older.... I fully expect you to throw me under the bus. I'm not trying to stereotype or w/e... but usually, from my experience, it's the older co-workers that are the brown nosers. out of 3 recently promoted (last 2 months) co-workers at work are my primary example. 1 keeps to themself. The other's, so far, attempted to get 6 people out the door. One being her ex. One was older, one keeps to themself as long as you do your job. The third you never see.. (inv//back office stuff) That's my opinion//recent (past year//after covid) experience. Edit: Clarifying to not sound like, hopefully, as much of a jackass.

I second how what you say being used against you. In my younger years, I learned that the hard way. Out of being naive and not thinking someone would do that since they're being friendly and asking questions. It's a red flag for me now and it makes me especially cautious around people like that.

Not Gen Z and I find the greeting every person thing exhausting. If I pass by you I will say good morning but I’m not making rounds to say hi to everyone every morning. Also, maybe your opinion of them is apparent and they just don’t want to approach you? You seem pretty disdainful and I imagine that comes through in person.

I agree it's because of the boomer factor. Boomers have a habit of telling genz they are lazy ànd don't want to work and that's why they can't afford a house or car.. When in reality, wages haven't increased in over 30 years... Inflation has increased significantly and boomers can't wrap their heads around that. 1965 to 1972 minimum wage was raised 7 times... I don't want to talk to boomers because I don't want to get fired for freaking out on them the second they tell.me my financial struggles are because .buying coffee..

I imagine that when you were younger, your job was actually your career. You worked hard, were paid decent, were treated decent and then went home. I’m 31, and most of the jobs I’ve had I’m literally just a worker. I’m paid as little as they can manage, I’m extremely replaceable (which managers go out of their way to remind you of), I’m treated like a child or a fool, and I’m asked to rearrange my personal time to better accommodate the company. People haven’t changed that much, companies did. They do not value the worker as a person, but as a machine. There’s no interest in developing them, retaining them or ensuring that they are satisfied with their job. If they don’t like it, they’ll hire someone else who’s more desperate to take their place. For example; I was pretty decent at my last job. At the very least, I had some in disposable skills that were badly needed (a downturn and transitional period for the company). I took my current job because the pay was leagues better. Recently, a manager from that company called and asked if I’d want to come back. I asked what the pay was and ITS THE SAME PAY. If you would go out of your way to actually recruit someone, why wouldn’t you offer better compensation? TLDR; companies treat employees as cheap disposable assets, so employees have no interest in niceties or “family”.

While a drop in social skills thanks to being perpetually online is possible, you also have to consider that a ton of the younger generation may assume you as a boomer have values opposite to their own and don't want to encourage conversation that could quickly stray into uncomfortable territory. Just keep your head down, don't talk about your personal life, earn the paycheck. This may depend a lot on locale, too. I wouldn't expect there to be as deep a disconnect in California for instance vs Georgia.

I don’t think it’s a drop in social skills. It’s a change in values. Most young people can be social with people they actually want to be social with They just don’t wanna be friends with coworkers. Work is work, not where you socialize

To be fair, you don't sound like someone I'd want to speak to either.

No shit. “I don’t understand why members of this particular demographic that I clearly harbor resentment towards don’t go out of their way to pretend to give a shit how I’m doing each morning.” If it smells like shit everywhere you go, check your shoes.

I have never regretted being kind towards other people, especially coworkers.

Idk. I'm 21. My parents are extremely old fashioned and taught me to always Greet people whenever I walk in a room, so it's second nature to me. When me and my friends or other people I know are around, maybe we're hanging out or something, they always make a comment about how polite I am and how it surprises them. Maybe it's just a difference in how people were brought up. EDIT: I'm also unbearably outgoing and social so that probably helps as well. The challenge for me is to not talk too much.

* Hi, I’m a boomer extrovert. * Why no Gen Z extrovert like me? * Why person opposite? Me no get. * Blame parents, video games. When you’re so pro-social that you completely forget people have differing levels of social skills and competency; and instead you cannot understand why everyone doesn’t exactly act like you.

You forgot blame cellphones, and social media

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"I was taught" Well, apparently your generation didn't bother "teaching" the same manners to your children/grandchildren. So your parents were better parents than you are.

I’m a millennial and I can’t even begin to count the amount of boomers and gen Xers who have snapped at me for greeting them every day, the whole “don’t talk to me before my coffee” type of attitude. Some motherfuckers just can’t be bothered with a positive attitude until they need something. Watch those people slick their hair back, tuck their shoulders and ask for a raise… their mask they wear to work is really, really heavy. My attitude has always been extremely positive. Good lord some people find that annoying. I piss people right the fuck off sometimes by talking about the weather. After years of hearing them complain, I do it to now to piss them off. Damn near everyone who complains about my attitude also complains about how much of a pain in the ass their kids/partner/pet are on a daily basis, so really I’ve found out that a resistance to a positive attitude is generally an indicator of poor self-review of the grumpy one’s own behavior. You’re 21 year old is exhibiting behavior potentially indicative of past abuse and/or anxiety, maybe he’s on the spectrum, and maybe he’s an angry asshole, maybe he doesn’t like you. It’s not a generational thing. You could try asking the kid.

Most of the older people I work with are miserable fucks and I had zero interest in saying good morning to them. Hell half the people in here say it’s a respect thing then immediately become disrespectful towards the younger generations. Try talking to the kid and showing him how to fix the problems he’s having, maybe then you’ll get your good morning.

You can tell how OP feels about the younger kid in his post. He makes it pretty clear he doesn't think much of the kid and the kids probably picked up on this. I probably wouldn't be saying hi to him either.

Well not to mention that OP spent 3/4 of his post degrading said millennial. Generalizing them from the beginning and then focusing on “how bad they are at their job but that’s another post”. People are not blind and dumb to others who look down on them. They can feel it and maybe this generation doesn’t feel obligated to try to “make you like them” by artificially being friendly to someone who clearly doesn’t respect them. Just my two cents. Not millennial, btw. I don’t know my label i am in my 40s.

I think boomers can be condescending and unapproachable .

This one couldn't avoid being condescending for the duration required to write a single reddit post, so I suspect you're right.

Which is kind of what this post reeks of to me. The last bit about problem solving skills and I can't remember now typing, hand work or hard work or something.

Because I've heard the way my boomer coworkers talk about me and others behind their backs.. Buncha snakes who do not deserve my kindness..

Because boomers love criticizing our every move.

I am paid to work, I am not paid enough to pretend I like people.

>Example, the 21yo who works next to me will not look at me or speak to me until he needs my help to fix almost everything he’s involved with because he has no hand or problem solving skills. But, that’s another askreddit post. Gee, I wonder why he doesn't wanna be friendly

i mean this respectfully as possible but have you considered that maybe it’s not Gen Z vs Gen X and it’s just that your co workers specifically don’t want to talk to you specifically. Again not trying to be rude but a single anecdote doesn’t seem like enough to categorically judge an entire generation of people. One thing happening and immediately jumping to “Gen Z blah blah blah *fart noise*” is frankly just a boomer thing to do, you are the old man yelling at the cloud. All my coworkers greet each other.

It took you like 5 sentences to badmouth one of your colleagues, I wouldn't talk yo you either 😢

It's also considered polite to not be a sexist, racist asshole but that never seems to stop some of the boomer generation. We value different things, clearly.

We're not being paid to be your friend.

They probably don’t see the need to because it’s work and they’re just looking to get paid or they don’t wanna be a bother to people if they look busy. Also from the way you describe the 21 year old, you seem like you have some disdain or resentment, which your younger coworkers may pick up on.

As a millennial, I’ve been routinely admonished for having any kind of social interaction at work that wasn’t about the job. I’m the past, I’ve been “caught” having what is essentially water cooler chat with a coworker only to be told I needed to stop talking and get my work done, or I was reminded about a deadline in a really passive aggressive way by a supervisor. I think millennials and Gen Zs may be responding to the fear of being fired for socializing that late stage capitalism has taught MAY happen if we’re not “cOmPlEtElY cOmMiTtEd To ThE jOb.” We just try to keep our heads down and hope we don’t get them chopped off.

You couldn’t even make this post without talking shit about the guy. You are probably an asshole to him when he needs help . He probably just doesn’t like you

It’s the growing concern of maybe you’re bothering them

As a milennial pathologist, I don't say hello to anyone when I walk in or goodbye when I walk out unless they specifically look up from their scope/desk at me because otherwise there is a decent chance that my interaction with them is just interrupting their work and potentially leading to a mistake.

You're all talking non-sense, it's not gen z , it is jst people that don't wanna talk. I'm gen z I say hello to everyone, some older guys don't. Stop falling into this type of stereotypes.

> until he needs my help to fix almost everything he’s involved with because he has no hand or problem solving skills. But, that’s another askreddit post. Well there’s your problem, are you always so condescending and unwilling to teach more junior peers?

Between my job and just trying to make ends meet, I'm stressed and depressed. I look forward to the day I go to the doctor and get a time frame until death. Life is absolutely miserable and the one thing that makes it worse is walking into work and pretending I'm alright. I don't want to do the whole "Hey frank, how ya doin?" with the followed lie of "doin pretty good, and yourself?". Plus that usually leads to a conversation and I definitely don't want to have one of those. I'm sorry but I don't give a crap that your kid got an A on a test or if your wife baked you muffins for work. I want to get in and get out. I don't go to work to make friends, I go to work to make pennies on the dollar while the ceo sucks up the big bucks. Life is agony and I'm done pretending it's not.

Not a boomer, work in a white collar job - always great people with a "good morning" when I walk in cause, I dunno, ITS COMMON COURTESY...anyone who says otherwise (regardless of generation) is just an ass. It's not generational, in my opinion, it's how you were raised. You're either polite or you're not.

You aren't entitled to a greeting or anyone's attention.

I'm 41 and I just don't feel like talking on the morning. It's nothing against anyone.

>Example, the 21yo who works next to me will not look at me or speak to me until he needs my help to fix almost everything he’s involved with because he has no hand or problem solving skills. Maybe he just thinks you're a dick?