#8: To hire or not to hire baby boomers?; Calling in sick when you’re not; ChatGPT - the new interviewer; Good leaders put themselves in their employees' shoes.

Welcome to the newest edition of Hacking Work International Newsletter!

Here’s what you can expect every Thursday:
Updates on the global job market; the latest developments in leadership and organisational culture; valuable insights into professional and educational landscapes; modern perspectives on careers; and the evolving nature of work.

In today's email:

• Elderly people at work: yay or nay?

• ChatGPT helps you prepare for your interview

• A good leader understands what is happening at the base

  • Quick Reads: Byte-sized news

  • Did You Know? 3 out of 10 people call in sick when they're not

• The Secrets of Successful Growth: What to Avoid?

• News on Layoffs

• The "Hey-hanging" phenomenon - rude behaviour

  • Mind Hack: The Unspoken Rules of Workplace Etiquette

  • Recommendations: What to read

Elderly people at work: two contrasting perspectives

The manager of Italy's oldest dairy factory has decided to exclusively recruit individuals aged over 60 for a new project. Roberto Brazzale, aged 61 himself, says that employees over 60 are reliable and have the experience, passion and energy of the employees in their 40s from the past. This stands in contrast to previous encounters with younger employees, which concluded with “unsatisfactory outcomes.”

On the other hand, Sara Holcomb, a millennial boss explains that she will stop hiring baby boomers after an unfortunate experience regarding the use of technology with an elderly employee. She shared the experience on social media. According to Sara, the person was not qualified for the role and was "too old to work". This story raises questions about age discrimination and adaptability to technology in today's workplace and has sparked widespread debate online.

What do you think?

ChatGPT helps you prepare for your interview

Since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has expanded its features - it allows you to upload a picture and start a conversation based on it or have a verbal dialogue. Simon Taylor, a former Disney recruiter, recommends using this feature of ChatGPT when preparing for an interview. Here's how to do it:

• Copy the job description into ChatGPT;

• Say you want to do a mock interview based on this description;

• Select "voice mode". You can exit voice mode at any time and even ask ChatGPT to analyse your answers.

Of course, every recruiter has their interviewing methods and ChatGPT will not know what they will focus on, but it can give you a valuable and useful starting point in preparing for the interview.

A good leader understands what is happening at the base of the organisation

Mindaugas Paulauskas, CEO of Lithuanian company Girteka Transport, spent 15 days in the driver's seat to better understand drivers' routines, needs, challenges and opportunities. Despite years of experience and knowledge of the challenges, Paulauskas decided to personally experience every aspect of his colleagues' work.

"The project I am embarking on aims to bring us closer to the drivers’ community: to understand their lifestyle by participating in cargo deliveries, navigating European roads, and tackling daily challenges such as parking, cargo security, and utilising digital tools, just as they do on a typical working day,” he says.

The entire journey will be published on the company's social media to raise awareness of the current challenges and opportunities for drivers in the logistics sector. The Mindaugas on the Road project also aims to promote the profession among young people.

The Secrets of Successful Growth: What Mistakes to Avoid?

Two of the biggest mistakes founders make that jeopardise the growth of their companies are underestimating the value of expertise in favour of cost and failing to cultivate a culture of sustainable growth.

When we prioritise cost over expertise by choosing cheaper alternatives over experienced professionals or cutting back on investments in appropriate technology, we undermine our long-term progress. Additionally, by ignoring the importance of building a unified organisational culture and collaboration between departments, we risk fragmenting teams and hindering the efficiency and scalability of the business.

To avoid these pitfalls, founders should invest in expertise and appropriate technology, and foster collaboration and cohesion among teams to ensure sustainable and successful growth.

News on Layoffs

• Swedish fintech company Klarna boasts that it doesn't miss the 700 employees it laid off because artificial intelligence can do the job for them.

• IBM is encouraging employees to opt for voluntary layoffs by offering severance packages before the new massive wave of layoffs officially begins. The initiative, described as transformative, is part of the company's efforts to save $3 billion a year by the end of 2024.

• Sony announces 900 cuts in its video games division - around 8% of its total workforce - and the closure of its London development centre.

The "Hey-hanging" phenomenon - rude behaviour that increases stress

"Hey-hanging" refers to situations where a manager or colleague sends a simple "hey" or "hi" and doesn't explain the reason for the writing. Experts say the practice causes unnecessary anxiety among employees.

"In the workplace, so much of our day takes place over messaging platforms such as Slack, especially for those that remain remote or in hybrid teams who don’t meet each other face-to-face. Given this, a ‘hanging’ exchange can leave recipient employees feeling unsettled and uncomfortable.” says Jared Pope, founder and CEO of Work Shield.

The illustration below highlights this habit. Did it happen to you?