Millennial woman reveals elderly coworker's adorable daily gesture — and it's a plea to give Boomers a chance

Work can be overwhelming at times, and even when you're doing fine, the routine can wear you down. But when you have someone like Don, you start to realize how much lighter the day feels when someone cares enough to show up for you in ways undefined. Lori Rakes, 23, started working as a licensed health insurance agent in Ohio almost a year ago. She’s made friends at her workplace, but one coworker, Don, stood out. At 73, Don brings Lori homemade food almost every day, ranging from snacks to full meals. In a TikTok video posted to her account @lorirakes20, she shows a container of ham and bean soup resting on her desk, which Don brought for her that day. Boomers might get a bad rap but Rakes' co-worker is a beautiful reminder that it's important to not judge and typecast Boomers.

A caption layered over the video reads, "Let this be a sign to become friends with your older coworkers." Showing Don working on his desk, she writes, "This man brings me homemade lunch almost every day. I can't explain how healing it is for my inner child to have someone do something like that for me." In a follow-up shared with Newsweek, Rakes explained that Don has become like a grandfather figure to her. "My grandparents live in another state, but it's so nice having someone close to me who can fill that role when I need it. It's relieving to have someone close to me who can make my job so fulfilling and make it feel more like a home," she said.

Don’s lunch offerings are his regular acts of generosity. "Don brings me food every day, whether it's snacks or meals. He will often cook big meals for our entire team. In the past, he's brought in goulash, pasta salad, chicken bakes, different types of soups, and he brings in doughnuts for the team every Friday," Rakes said. She tries to return the favor whenever she can. "He definitely does more for me than I do for him, so that's something I'd like to work on," she said. This kind of intergenerational connection is something workplaces benefit from heavily. A study published in the Harvard Business Review found that when employees build relationships across generations, teams tend to be more collaborative and productive. 

The video has drawn a lot of attention, with many commenters expressing how rare and needed these kinds of relationships can be in work environments. @lifeisbaking wrote, "Glad to see a video being thankful for an older coworker instead of complaining about them." @philshauna commented, "Thank you, Don, for helping heal this girl — on behalf of all the TikTok girls who are hungry at work right now." @aprilarson said, "Me finding the oldest person at every new job and making it my mission to make them want to adopt me, lol." @8675309jenny81 added, "I love being an older coworker! The 'kids' at work keep me young!"

Rakes also described how Don’s consistency has helped her feel seen and supported as she adjusted to a new role. "Our families aren't always accessible, and we spend so much of our time at work, so it's really rewarding to create a family where you work," she said, adding that some of the most meaningful connections don’t always come from shared backgrounds. "You really can learn so much about yourself by interacting with people who have experienced more life than you," she said.

You can follow Lori Rakes (@lorirakes20) for more life and finance videos.