Generations In The Workplace

1
Generations In The Workplace
2
What is a Generation?

• A group of individuals born and living about the
  same time.
• A group of contemporaries regarded as having
  common cultural or social characteristics and
  attitudes They're the Baby-Boomer Generation.
  

3
Whos Working Today?

• Traditionalists/Matures (1920-1943)
• Baby Boomers (1944-1964)
• Generation X (1965-1980)
• Millennials (1980-2000)

4
What words would other generations use to
describe your generation?
5
The events and conditions each of us experience
during our formative years help define who we are
and how we view the world
6
Your generation is just one of the factors that
influences adult behavior
Other Influences Gender
Ethnicity Race
Personal Identity Sexual Orientation
7
Traditionalists/Matures (1920-43)

• Experiences
• Great Depression
• World War II
• Korean War

• Values
• Loyalty
• Hard Work
• Duty Before Pleasure
• Honor
• Sacrifice

8
Baby Boomers (1944-64)

• Experiences
• Civil Rights Movement
• Sexual Revolution
• Cold War
• Assassinations

• Values
• Personal Gratification
• Downsizing
• Workaholics
• Respect Authority
• Seniority

9
Generation X (1965-80)

• Experiences
• MTV
• Affirmative Action
• Latchkey Kids Single Moms
• Computers

• Values
• Independence
• Work/Family Balance
• Loyalty- Boss vs. Co.
• Rebel Role Models
• Accepts Diversity Technology

10
Millennials (1980-2000)

• Experiences
• War on Terrorism
• Child-Focused World Helicopter Parents
• A-for-Effort
• Technology
• Globalism

11
Millennials (1980-2000)

• Values
• Patriotism Heroes
• Parent Relationships
• Confidence
• Multiculturalism Teamwork
• Immediate Informal Communication

12
Communication Between the Generations

• Older generations have more formal ways of
  communicating
• Writing
• Meetings
• Speaking
• Feedback

13
Communication Impact

• Comments that seem informative and helpful to
  older generations may seem preachy to younger
  generations
• Older generations want meetings instead of
  spontaneous discussions

14
Feedback

• Traditionalists- No news is good news
• Boomers- Feedback once a year and lots of
  documentation
• Xers- Sorry to interrupt but how am I doing?
• Millennials- Feedback at the push of the button

15
Example

• Xers Millennials will question rules and ask
  for accommodations.
• Traditionalists Boomers think that rules should
  be followed without question