Re: The "Grey Ceiling"

rrc wrote:
BMJ wrote:

I don't feel sorry for the younger people described in the article. They all display the
attitude that they *deserve* to move ahead within a short period of time and that the
older workers are conspiring to hold them back.


I think it has to do with the fact that a lot of fast trackers think
that promotions, into the directorships or partnerships, are based upon
merit when in fact, they are based upon cronyism.

Not always. Promotions were, and I believe still are, based to a great extent on seniority. That, in theory, isn't altogether bad because those with the most experience should, one would think, have corresponding knowledge and would, therefore, make suitable leaders.

However, the people described in the article thought that promotions should be a reward, perhaps for things they were expected to do in the first place.

In my day, when one was similarly thwarted, one simply cut back on one's efforts, perhaps even to working to rule, and made other plans. I didn't read about anyone doing that. Instead, like the spoiled child who didn't get his or her lollipop, the people in the article simply quit.


Now, the problem is that no one's allowed to openly talk about cronyism
outside of ngs like src.

So, what these so-called grey ceiling-boomers have done is created a
blastshield around themselves so that no one can breakup the
cohort/clique and thus, eliminate the 'American Graffiti' gang from
their positions of power even if they contribute nothing to the
bottomline.

Not necessarily. If one has a group of experienced people who work well together, why should they allow some smart-aleck kid who acts like a know-it-all into their group?

Ultimately, a lot of thirtysomethings will have to accept
the fact that life in corporate America is hopeless and the best they
can do is keep their positions during downturns, etc, or become
self-employed w/all the risks, become daytraders, or attend law/medical
schools where their salaries, even w/o being promoted, may satisfy
their needs. The problems come with denial whereas acceptance may take
one further.


My experience with corporate life is that it's almost always based upon politics. It took me a while to accept the fact that working hard and well did not necessarily yield tangible benefits.

Unfortunately, many of the people in the article sounded as if they were raised in a culture of personal entitlement and it, perhaps, hits them harder when they realize that they are not special, the world does not revolve around them, and they actually have to rely on their talents and wits to accomplish something.

I saw that all the time while I was teaching. Now that most of my students have gone into the working world, perhaps some of them realize that I wasn't telling them tall tales about what it's really like out there.
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