Old technology baffles younger workers

Old tech baffles young workers

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Since 22-year-old Erika Loc is an up-and-coming IT whiz, the boss at her first cybersecurity internship figured she knew how to use a printer.

That boss was wrong.

When Loc and a fellow intern needed to print and sign some paperwork in the office, they started out confident, she said. The printer had a touch-screen interface, so how hard could it be? But the printer wouldn’t print. They tapped the screen. They hunted for ink and toner — all accounted for. The machine was plugged into the wall, and the outlet was working. Finally, they found the problem. There was no paper inside.

“It was embarrassing how long it took us to think of that,” Loc said.

Age bias affects both sides, as older workers try not to appear out of touch and Gen Z — often encountering printers, scanners and landline phones for the first time — contend with stereotypes that they are skilled with all forms of tech. Tech-shaming at work is a problem, but it doesn’t have to be.

As an office manager, Kate Yeagle sees staff of all ages confront new workplace tech.

“It’s all about establishing the opportunity to ask questions and letting people know you’re not going to make them feel bad either way,” she said. “Being Gen Z doesn’t mean you’re an expert, and being older doesn’t mean you don’t know what’s going on.”