During this morning's commute, NPR reported that younger workers require much 'coddling', at least according to the opinion of workers and managers that are 40+. (pod cast at npr.org).

I wondered why I was not able to make a comparative to my workplace, because there no known "high-maintenance" employees. And I am aware of ALL employees, as the U.S. incorporation of my employer is very small (less than 100 employees). Further recollection 'revealed' that there has been no new hire, discernibly less than 35, within the previous four years.

I should mention the major contributing factor to my employer's upper age 'bias', probably typical to small technical organizations, is that my boss requires all people to have significant experience. If you understand analog signal conditioning, digital 'glue' logic, embedded microcontrollers and DSP, electromagnetic compatibility and product safety issues, and switchmode power conversion, we may have a job for you. And yes, even the network support tech (he works for the Director of Engineering) knows electronics and can troubleshoot complex power supplies.

I will continue to use the network support tech as an anecdotal example; he is approx 40 years of age, is not arrogant, and does whatever is required to get the job done. The IT techs at my previous employer considered the engineering department arch enemies, never completed the most simple project on time, insisted that they were the only employees of any value, and were all under the age of 36.

So I emailed my wife (manager at an ag business). She concurred with the NPR report, and said that she seldom sees competent and reliable workers that are under 40.

Let the generational wars begin...