How to deal with being the youngest in the office

Among the new class of MPs sworn into the UK Parliament in July, there were the first MPs from Gen Z. The youngest of these, Mr Sam Carling – who now has the unofficial title “Baby of the House” – is aged 22.

In an interview, Mr Carling alluded to an experience that many professionals in their 20s and 30s will be familiar with: accusations from older colleagues that they lack the necessary experience for the role.

In 2018, Ms Mhairi Black, elected as an MP at the age of 20, read out to Parliament some of the insults she had received during her time in office, including rape threats. Being asked about her age was a source of constant frustration and distraction from her work. She stepped down from office in 2024.

Most young professionals will not be going into this kind of high-responsibility role, and will not receive this level of abuse. But many will experience more subtle discrimination or stereotyping.

Research suggests age discrimination is U-shaped, with older and younger workers suffering the most. Yet campaigning focus has tended to be around older workers, with less understanding of the issues faced by young people – and less protection afforded to them.

Unison, the public services trade union in Britain, has highlighted the impacts of age discrimination on young people, from being belittled in workplaces to being bypassed for promotion and paid poor wages.

As recent research shows, “youngism” can come from a combination of stereotyping of life stage and generation. For many, the Gen Z label has become an easy catch-all for accusations of generational laziness and entitlement, repeated without justification in a way that would not be tolerated around any other protected characteristic.

Millennials will be familiar with this phenomenon too, having been blamed for killing off countless industries – from cereals to starter homes – and spending too much on lattes and avocado toast.

Advice for ‘babies’ of the office

If you are one of the younger workers in your office, particularly in a field dominated by older employees, you might feel your talent or experience is undermined.

But remember that you bring unique assets to the workforce. You have grown up asking important questions about inclusion – for example, around mental health and race – as a minimum expectation at work. And you are a digital native, comfortable moving between and experimenting with multiple platforms, as well as synthesising complex information from different sources.

If you are on the younger side of Gen Z, you may also have finished university or even school during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Your comfort with working flexibly or remotely will be an asset to employers, and you probably see value in retaining some shared workspaces for innovation and connecting.

In the meantime, here are some tips for coping with age stereotypes you may face in the world of work:

1. Schedule regular meetings

Meeting with your manager and colleagues can provide valuable opportunities for learning, while making sure that your needs and value to the organisation are visible.

Recent research found that younger workers’ experiences of wholly remote working had been compromised by more deficient home working spaces and fewer opportunities to connect with colleagues. Meetings in person or on Zoom can be an opportunity to ensure your working needs are met, and give you a chance to bond socially with others in your team.

2. Share your expertise

Don’t be afraid to introduce colleagues to digital resources and suggest new ways of working or collaborating. Where you encounter prejudice and lazy generalisations, raise these as issues with your manager and suggest alternative ways of thinking.

3. Grow your network

Make time for lunches and social activities, volunteer for working groups, or join a trade union. Your colleagues can be a huge source of support in your career, so be deliberate about searching out connections in hybrid workplaces. There are many benefits to forming intergenerational relationships, too, so reach out to colleagues outside your age cohort.

4. Get the basics right

Understand how to raise points in meetings, how to manage conflict effectively, and how to write a professional e-mail. There is a lot of good training out there, so make the most of it. It can help grow your confidence and give power to your voice.

5. Understand your rights

Britain’s Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) provides free and impartial advice, training and support relating to the workplace. When you are a young new starter, you are unlikely to have positional power, so this kind of information can help redress the balance.

Remember that most organisations do not do things wrong on purpose and want their employees to be happy and well supported, so offer collaborative solutions to problems wherever possible.

As working lives extend, age diversity has become a great opportunity for organisations – however, not all employers will get this right. If your workplace does not value your unique skills and perspective, it may be time to cut your losses and look for a new job. The best organisations will understand the benefits of intergenerational working, and will help support you to develop and thrive at work.