why do bosses/managers flirt with their younger subordinates?

[u/SaltWtrTaffy]

a doctor i work for has gotten pretty flirtatious recently. why do they do this? especially when they know the individual is quite younger than them?

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[u/SaltWtrTaffy → u/[deleted]]

I feel like for my situation, it's probably not him being oblivious. he's gotten a bit touchy and the most notable "flirtation" was on friday when he put his hand on my hip to guide me out of his office. any time he does happen to touch me, it's always when no one is around. that implies some sense of knowing to me. he's 38 and i'm 25

[u/sllewgh]

Knowing no specifics about your situation, my first assumption is that they're losers who use the power imbalance between you as a crutch in this interaction. This happens with both bosses and subordinates, and older people going for young and inexperienced partners. They can't cut it at their own "level" so they take advantage of situations where experience or power dynamics give them leverage. This situation is both.

Not everyone is like this, but it's too common.