Black Friday Sale! 50% Off All Access

'They Don't Know What Work Actually Means': Manager Fired After Posting Rant Against Gen Z on Front Door A Dollar Tree in Indiana is going viral after a strongly worded hiring notice was plastered to the front door of the store.

By Emily Rella

Entrepreneur+ Black Friday Sale

Our biggest sale — Get unlimited access to Entrepreneur.com at an unbeatable price. Use code SAVE50 at checkout.*

Claim Offer

*Offer only available to new subscribers

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Image
Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Image

It's long been joked about that boomers blame millennials and Gen Z for everything, including critiques on the younger generations' work ethic and alleged inability to save and spend money responsibly.

But one Dollar Tree manager took the generational assumptions a little too far after posting a hiring notice that banned Gen Z hopefuls from applying, subsequently getting herself fired in the process.

The Dollar Tree in Bremen, Indiana has become the source of internet infamy after a photo made its rounds of a sign that was plastered to the front of the store.

Related: Dollar Tree Announced Price Increases and People are Losing it: 'This is Really the End of Times I Fear'

"I apologize for us closing AGAIN," the note stated, with the last word underlined multiple times. "My 2 new cashiers quit because I said their boyfriends couldn't stand here for their entire shift."

A second piece of paper posted beneath the closure notice is where the trouble really began.

"Don't hire Gen Zs," the post begins. "They don't know what work actually means."

The manager then wrote that the store was hiring with an asterisk beneath it that said "Baby boomers ONLY, thanks!"

The notice made its rounds on several Twitter accounts where it began to go viral.

"Considering the youngest baby boomers are pushing sixty, they would likely be retirees," one Twitter user quickly pointed out. "Dude totally skipped gen X and millennials."

According to Investopedia, Baby Boomers include those born between 1946 and 1964 (roughly ages 58 to 76) while those in Gen Z were born between 1997 and 2012 (roughly ages 9 to 24).

Many users claimed that the practice was "age discrimination" at work while others suggested that this was probably the both cashiers' first job.

Related: 17 Wendy's Employees Leave on the Spot by Taping Sign to Drive-Thru: 'We Quit'

"This infuriates me to no end," one said. "Most people that work at this lousy place are working their first jobs, give them a damn break."

Dollar tree confirmed to local outlet WNDU that the manager is no longer with the company.

"We are aware that an unauthorized sign was posted at our store for a brief period of time," Vice President and Investor Relations for Dollar Tree, Randy Guiler, said in a statement to the outlet. "The handwritten message was absolutely not approved by or condoned by our Company."

According to the Indiana Age Discrimination legislature, it is illegal to "dismiss or refuse to employ or rehire any person because of his or her age." However, this is only applicable when the employee in question is between the ages of 40 and 75.

Dollar Tree was under fire earlier this year after announcing that it would be raising its namesake $1 prices on certain items.

"We believe testing additional price points above $1 for Dollar Tree product will enable us over time to expand our assortments, introduce new products and meet more of our customers' everyday needs," Michael Witynski, President and CEO of Dollar Tree said in a statement at the time.

As of late Tuesday afternoon, Dollar Tree was up nearly 42% year over year.

Related: 5 Simple Tips for Incorporating Gen Z Into Your Workplace

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

DOGE Leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Say Mandating In-Person Work Would Make 'a Wave' of Federal Employees Quit

The two published an op-ed outlining their goals for their new department, including workforce reductions.

Real Estate

Why Real Estate Professionals Should Prioritize Social Responsibility

Integrating social responsibility into real estate can foster community change, build trust and drive long-term business success.

Business News

Here's How Much Money You Need to Make in Order to Be 'Successful,' According to Each Generation

A new survey by Empower outlines how Americans of different ages define success.

Starting a Business

Why Are So Many Course Creators Struggling if It's 'Such an Easy Business'? Here's the Truth Behind the $800 Billion Industry

Creating an online course is so easy — at least, that's what many "gurus" would like you to believe. There's a lot of potential in the $800 billion industry, but here's why so many course creators are struggling.

Business News

The Two Richest People in the World Are Fighting on Social Media Again

Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk had a new, contentious exchange on X.

Franchise

McDonald's $5 Meal Deal Will Stay — And a New 'McValue Menu' Is on the Way in 2025

The McValue Menu is slated for a January 2025 debut and will feature a selection of budget-friendly items, allowing customers to customize meals at a lower cost.