How do you deal with employees who are older than you?

It is really hard on you since older people tends to know everything. But at the same time I would like to commend you for still trying to be fair in treating them. I personally think that you are a kind-hearted person because eventhough you are doing your job you still able to be human by questioning if you are doing the right thing in handling them. A call center job is not an easy job, it really needs skills and you being promoted to a supervisor level means you are indeed doing your job correctly. I am just lucky that I don't have to experience the things you are experience right now. I am under a supervision of people who are older than me and I handle people who are younger than me. Just do your best in doing your job and I know this older people will understand your situation. Happy myloting.

you treat them like anyone else, when I supervised I never questioned myself because I had the experience they did not, usually the older employees just got started in that line of work.

Time and time again, there will always be tensions between the young and the older generation. We have countless discussions on that with regards to the human behavior in the workplace. Anyhow, I could definitely say, don't deal with them. When you come to the point of needing to interact with older people in a not-so-good way or manner then end the anger or tension right-then-and-there. Tell them it's just your job and don't go beyond the call of duty so as not to be thought of as a$$-kissing. There will be problems, most especially jealousy. Plus, it doesn't go along well with lots of pressures and stress in your type of industry. But it pays to just lay-off the mindset that you're younger and they're older. Do your thing, let them do their. Period. Attitude will always be there regardless the generation, but remember you're there to earn a living and so are they. As long as nobody touches my stuff, there won't be a need for bloodshed - ey, I'm just blabbering okay? hehe.. Just lay out the rules, before you ask them to do something, tell them you were told to do so. There will be violent reactions from time-to-time, but as long as there's respect, there will be no problems.