FROM THE DESK OF GLENN SHEPARD

I know it sounds like a fairy tale now.

But once upon a time, back when our grandparents were heading off to work, everybody understood what it meant to hold a job.

They knew what to expect – and what was expected of them.

Sadly, that’s just not true today.

In fact, you probably find it hard to even imagine a workplace where everyone was on the same page.

Our culture has changed so much and so fast in recent years that people born in different decades often have radically different values.

I’ve worked in management for over 30 years so I’ve seen it happen — seen us go from a workplace filled with people who dressed up for work, reported on time and felt at least some sense of loyalty to the company, to one with an increasing number of folks who consider starting time optional, think dress codes are funny and believe any manager who expects them to do as they’re told is a “Fascist”.

Today’s workplace is filled with people with such different expectations they barely speak the same language.

With the result that what works with one employee is the absolute wrong thing to do with another — and managers like you are left scratching their heads and wishing they’d chosen a different career.