How to deal with uncooperative employees who are dismissive of your authority because of your age?

I’m 24 and a bar/club manager and there’s a few older employees here who don’t take me seriously and refuse to listen to me because they think I’m just dumb because of my age. Or they make fun of the fact that I went to college and assume that I think I’m better than them because of it. I try to be a really nice and supportive boss and I’m rather assertive but it keeps failing. I don’t want to fire them as they are really good at what they do.

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Mamapolo2016 · F

I think I’d meet with them and lay it out. “I think you guys are real assets and I would hate to have to let you go because the club would suffer. But whether you like it or not, as manager, this place is my responsibility and I will do things the way I see fit until they fire me. In the meantime, your discounting of my instructions is undercutting me with the rest of the staff. I’d like for us to work together comfortably but if you force my hand I will fire you.”

Then let the chips fall.

ProfRS · 61-69, M

@Mamapolo2016 Excellent suggestion.

Lana24 · 31-35, F

@Mamapolo2016 this sounds like a great way to go about it :) thank you!

Mamapolo2016 · F

@Lana24 Folks like that can be very tough. Likely they won’t get it until the first pink slip.

wunderluv · 51-55, M

@Lana24 also, you could put them on unpaid leave for a week or so .. before firing them that is