I would like to take a moment to share something that really frustrated me.  A couple of weeks ago we posted a Help Wanted ad on Facebook.  As per usual we received questions, comments and people sharing it to those looking for employment.  As I scrolled through the comments, one in particular really bothered me.
A person commented, “Stop hiring young people.  They are rude, unfriendly, lazy and that is why I won’t spend my hard earned money at your business”.  How do I respond to that?  First and foremost, I know plenty of 40, 50, 60 and 70 year olds that are rude, so I don’t believe age really plays a factor in that.  Secondly, when you, as a customer, have a Duke Bakery employee assisting you in picking out your favorite treat, that same young person is responsible for mopping, washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, answering the phone, putting up orders, organizing freezers and coolers etc. in order to prepare the space for the bakers that will be coming in early the next morning.  Lazy?  I think not!
In defense of the person that left this comment, all of the unfriendly, rude and lazy traits that were listed are possible sometimes, but it is unfair to assign that to an entire generation.  If this commenter did have an experience that left them to feel this way, we the management team, are only a phone call, email or even just a few steps away from that unprofessional employee, so please ask for us.
To sum this up, coming from 75 years in business for the bakery and 27 years of business experience for me personally, I could not be more proud of the young people that work at Duke Bakery.  In fact, I believe they may be the smartest generation yet.  Working alongside the teenagers and college kids over the years has taught me more than I have taught them.  There always could be a bad apple in every bunch, but the majority of them are vibrant, energetic, and intelligent.  Being around all of them are a breath of fresh air.  Remember, in many cases this is the first job that they’ve held, which in turn is a tremendous opportunity and responsibility for us.  It is our duty to encourage and guide them into being great honest, trustworthy and hardworking leaders for the future generations.
As for the person who commented on our Help Wanted Facebook ad, we take your concerns seriously.  I can promise you that we receive far more praise for our young employees than negative.  Never hesitate to reach out to management if there is an issue, because if we aren’t aware of it we can’t fix it.
All in all, I could not be more proud of our staff of all ages.

A Gen Xer,
Baker Ben