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.

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

Montanaman · M

The proper approach would be to talk to them in private, professional, and let them know how you feel and what you expect from them as your subordinates, but you might not refer to them as subordinates, even though they are. Tell them that as a team, you are co-workers, but there's a line, that cannot be crossed in the future.
Or some such shit as that.👍😋🤗

Lana24 · 31-35, F

Thank you! I think this is a great way to approach it! @Montanaman