Generations at work

WORKING ACROSS GENERATIONSOR, “Why Aren’t You Dead

Yet?

Finish these phrases:

• Young people these days just don’t have a strong work ________.

• Older managers are so ________.

• This younger generation seems to have such a short ________.

•

Gen Y

Conclusions• Research does not always support age

stereotypes

• Diversity is a challenge

• Experience and socio-economic status or generational differences?

So, Why Do We Stereotype? . . .

• Describe one major event that occurred while you were growing up

• Describe one memorable symbol from your formative years – it could be a TV program, movie, song, toy, slogan, etc.

• What do you find frustrating about the other generations in the workplace?

• What do you appreciate about the other generations in the workplace?

Main Areas of Generational Conflict

• Motivation

• Work Life Balance

• Communication

• Values

The Baby Boomers

• Born between 1946- 1964: 67 to 49 years• 9.6 million – 30% of population in Canada

• Postwar affluence • Parental indulgence• More aware of political and social issues • Societally- increasing divorce rate,

working mothers, and the sexual revolution

• Values included self-fulfillment, individualism, and material wealth

The Gen X-ers

• Born- 1965 – 1980– 33 to 48 years old– 6.7 million (21% of population)

• Grew up in a difficult time financially, socially

• “Latch-key kids"• Children were feeling abandoned and

longed for meaningful relationships • Skeptical of big organizations• AIDS, threatened shortages of natural

resources, and a lack of good jobs influenced their worldview as they began entering the workforce

Millennials

Gen Y - Millennials

• Born 1981 – 2000 age 32 or younger• 8.3 million (26% of the Canadian population)

The Millenials• Grew up with the Internet• Growing up with more positive

relationships with their parents • Just starting to enter the management

ranks

Technology is anything inventedafter you were born*

• Video games• PCs• Commands• E-mail• Mailing lists

• Cassettes

• Video games• PCs• Commands• E-mail• Mailing lists

• Cassettes

Gen - XersGen - Xers

• The Web• Mobile devices• KWM interface• IM, blogs• Virtual communities• CDs, MP3s

• The Web• Mobile devices• KWM interface• IM, blogs• Virtual communities• CDs, MP3s

MillennialsMillennialsBoomersBoomers

• TV• Mainframes• PLATO• Telephones• Party lines

• LPs

• TV• Mainframes• PLATO• Telephones• Party lines

• LPs

* Alan Kay

• A digital immigrant is an individual who was born before the existence of digital technology and adopted it to some extent later in life.

• A digital native is a person who was born during or after the general introduction of digital technologies and through interacting with digital technology from an early age, has a greater understanding of its concepts.

Clash Points

Institutions…

Institutions

Baby Boomers

Need to change

Generation X Are suspect

Generation Y Should be judged on their own merit

Career Goals…

Goals

Baby Boomers

Build a Stellar Career

Generation X Build a Portable Career

Generation Y Build Parallel Careers

Feedback. . .

Feedback

Baby Boomers

Once a year with documentation

Generation X Interrupts and asks how they’re doing

Generation Y Wants feedback at touch of a button

Work Ethic. . .

Work Ethic

Baby Boomers

Work hard, Play hard, Worry about Money

Generation X Work hard if it doesn’t interfere with play, Save money

Generation Y Good grades, Make others pay, Save money

Rewards. . .

Rewards

Baby Boomers

Money, title, recognition

Generation X Freedom!

Generation Y Work that has meaning

Career Path…

Career Path

Baby Boomers

Job changing puts you behind

Generation X Job changing is necessary

Generation Y Doesn’t need to be a straight line

Leadership. . .

Leadership

Baby Boomers

By Consensus

Generation X By Competence

Generation Y By Pulling Together

Values . . .

Values

Baby Boomers

Try to be sensitive, but prefer to be with others like selfStay together at all costs

Generation X You can’t count on families. Whoever is closest to you that is your familyTreat in politically correct ways – enjoy building relationships

Generation Y Hardly notice the differenceKeep families together

Management Styles. . .

Management Style

Baby Boomers

Participative

Generation X Do what we’ve all agreed uponWhat ever is the latest

Generation Y Hyper collaborativePersonal - do what each is best at and wants to doJust-in-time management

Responsibilities of Managers

• Do you see any generational conflict at Spartan?

• In what ways can we better handle generational conflict in our workplace?

• What can be done to meet specific needs of the 3 different generations?