Good morning! I'm on the train when this was written, and also probably tomorrow when it gets published. Hello from the past!
There was a beautiful sunrise this morning; the sun came over one horizon and a huge cloud came over the other and they met int he middle and it looked like two sunrises almost.
I'm working for maybe 9 days straight this week because I'm going on vacation to Florida in a few days. I'll be able to post a lot there – or maybe I'll take a break and let everyone catch up.
A girl at work texted my boss to call out for her first ever shift ten minutes before she was supposed to be there. My boss wasn't even at work at the time – this girl texted the wrong person to call out for her first shift.
It got us talking about the kids these days. Now, I'm 22 – I'm one of the kids these days. But I've been in the professional environment long enough that I don't seem it. But I got what she was saying;
For most people there's a huge difference between calling out and texting out. Me, I don't see much of a difference as long as the text is responded to/confirmed at the right time (i.e, two hours or more before a shift). Aside from the fact that anyone can get into my phone and text my boss anything they like, I guess. But other than that, I don't see much of an issue.
So we were talking about how the millennial generation is the last one that does have a problem with that, because while they were introduced to/invented technology, we were raised on it (well I'm actually an older gen Z so I should be saying “they” but anyway). We didn't learn how to text on a razor before a keyboard (ok yes I did but that's beside my point).
My boss is having trouble threading the needle before being stern with the new, younger girls, and understanding the technological disconnect. Honestly though, the part where it was texted was the only thing we disagreed on. The part where she didn't give us a couple of hours notice is totally unacceptable, and the part where she didn't call the actual store, but a manager who she didn't even know was there – like no. Like fuck no. I would have told her to not show up for her next shift.
So I'm also threading a needle; being part of this generation but also being partial to traditional values and respect is a hard place to explain to people that I'm standing. Often, we equate youth with rebellion, and sure I've done plenty of that. But my moral compass won't sound like most of the people in the recent generations.
In fact, a lot of people my age are offended by it. Especially when I talk about its practices. On the surface, it sounds nice (“Don't tell people what they can and can't do”) but in practice they don't like it at all:
Don't tell business owners what they can and cannot do with their businesses.
Don't tell business owners who they must hire.
Don't tell business owners and their employees what the latter must be paid.
Don't tell business owners who they must serve.
Don't tell people what they can and cannot own (guns).
Don't tell people what they can and cannot imbibe (drugs).
Don't tell people who they can and cannot be with (gay marriage).
Don't tell people what they must spend their money on.
And so on.
At least, not unless you're their parent. And they're a child. Then, tell them all these things, I guess.