Shop owner roasted after brutal sign slamming Gen Z workers

A shop owner has found themselves in the firing line of hundreds of cranky people over their controversial sign that took aim at Gen Zs.

Furious debate has erupted after a shop owner took aim at Gen Z workers in a brutal sign blaming them for their business having to close.

The obviously frustrated owner revealed in harsh detail why a pair of young former employees were the reason the doors of their business had to shut.

“I apologise for us closing AGAIN,” the sign, erected on the front window of a store in Indiana, in the US, on April 20, read.

“My two new cashiers quit because I said their boyfriends couldn’t stand here for their entire shift.”

They went further to include some questionable hiring advice for other business owners, telling them: “Don’t hire Gen Zs, they don’t know what work actually means”.

Underneath, they announced the store was “now hiring”, but specified it would be employing “Baby Boomers only thanks”.

The sign sparked a heated wave of controversy after a photo of it was shared online Thursday.

Hundreds of people responded in comments to the post, which has attracted more than 5000 reactions and shared more than 300 times.

A cranky boomer took aim at two loved-up Gen Zs for having to close their shop 'again'. Picture: Facebook

While some agreed Boomers made better workers than their younger counterparts, others argued it was unfair to discriminate against an entire generation because of a few loved-up youths.

“A lot of the older people I’ve worked with refuse to do anything physically demanding due to having a ‘bad this’ and ‘my this hurts’ and if asked to do so they will whine and complain,” one wrote.

“That's a pretty awful and ageist sign. I’m pretty young and I work 48 hours a week and never sit once while I’m on the clock. There are people who are young and hard working,” another said.

Most respondents agreed that regardless of whether a certain generation had better workers, openly discriminating against Gen Zs in the sign was the wrong way to go.

“I’m a boomer and I wouldn’t want to work at a place that excludes people because of their youth. Good workers can offer service with vitality and enthusiasm at any age,” one person wrote.

“Can’t imagine anyone wanting to apply at a place that does this. If this sign is any indication of management, good luck. Way too many other jobs out there with respectful bosses eager to hire any age,” another said.

“Honestly, I would have fired them, too. However, the rest is just whoa. No ‘boomer’ is gonna look at that and go, ‘Oooo! It’s a job especially for me! Yay!’,” someone else wrote.

Bad PR for business

Others agree the sign hadn’t done the store owner any publicity favours.

“I’d say this makes the shop owner look bad more than anyone. And yeah I agree, they shouldn’t have their bfs just loitering around,” one said.

“Yeah this is why we don’t write a sign or note while we are angry. Wait a bit. Just place a closed due to lack of staff and now hiring. That note is wrong on many levels and gives a really bad reputation. No, boyfriends shouldn’t hang out. But it doesn’t need to be broadcasted. Also, a lot of Boomers officially retired during the pandemic. So good luck finding a few,” another wrote.

“You cannot discriminate based on age, even if you are discriminating in favour of Boomers. They should be reported,” someone else said.

Originally published as Shop owner roasted after brutal sign slamming Gen Z workers