Workers believe managers treat colleagues from various ages differently.

Never mind the old adage that age doesn’t matter as nearly 9 in 10 (86%) of Hong Kong employees prefer that their direct superiors are older, according to a survey by HR firm Randstad.

This figure is higher than the global and APAC average of 69% and 83% respectively. Compared to its regional peers, Hong Kong places more premium on age and respect than workers in China, Malaysia and Singapore.

This is because 80% of Hong Kong employees believe that their colleagues receive different treatment depending on their age, a figure that once again beats the global and APAC average.

Seven in 10 respondents across Asia said that their direct managers treat their colleagues from various generations differently, with the sentiment being the highest in Hong Kong SAR (80%) and lowest in the mainland China at 67%.

“It might be an easier decision to promote someone who is older rather than someone who is slightly younger who demonstrates leadership qualities. As business leaders, we have the difficult task of deciding who deserves a promotion and eventually, it really boils down to the individuals’ competence and the ability to navigate in today’s complex and competitive world.” Natellie Sun, managing director at Randstad Hong Kong said in a statement.