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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BeachBum · F

Being team leader sometimes means standing your ground and making tough calls.
Sounds to me like they are testing your leadership with disrespect.

If you have a manager or superior(owner) I would talk to them about this issue and seek guidance and support. Gain an understanding of how to communicate about the bar's expected staff conduct.

Perhaps you and the owner will need to find a way to make it crystal clear to all, that it is not acceptable to make such comments relating to anyone's position or personal life.

Offer them an honest reminder that as good as they are at their job, no one is irreplacable in hospitality!
And if they can't get on board and work with you as a Team, then perhaps they should seek other opportunities. Anything less than this is really not going to be effective.

Lana24 · 31-35, F

@BeachBum I’m technically the owner too. It was my fiancé’s bar. But I do agree on being more direct and clear about my set expectations with them

BeachBum · F

@Lana24 it has to be clear, black and white.
Management has the final say on how the bar operates and the expectations on staff.

Perhaps in your case one on indivial meetings might be a better way to communicate these.

Culture is everything in a business. Disrepect & bad attitudes towards leadership will impact on the success or failure of your bar :)

Do you have a customer charter?