GENERATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE Silent Boomers Gen Xers Millennials

The Four Generations Silents (1933-1945) Gen X (1965-1976) Boomers (1946-1964) Millennials (1977-1998) Boomers 34% Gen Xers 18% Millenials 33% Silents 15%

Silents Believe that hard work and dedication leads to rewards Punctual and rarely miss work Committed to organization Respect Authority Not self-promoting

Believe that hard work and

dedication leads to rewards

Punctual and rarely miss work

Committed to organization

Respect Authority

Not self-promoting

Working With Silents What they bring to the team Superb interpersonal skills Good work ethic Areas of Conflict May struggle with the diversity of the workforce May struggle with technology

What they bring to the team

Superb interpersonal skills

Good work ethic

Areas of Conflict

May struggle with the diversity

of the workforce

May struggle with technology

Boomers “ Me” generation Competitive and hard-working, started the 60 hr work week Get the job done at any cost Seen as sacrificing personal life to achieve professional goals New outlook: They’re getting a life.

“ Me” generation

Competitive and hard-working,

started the 60 hr work week

Get the job done at any cost

Seen as sacrificing personal life

to achieve professional goals

New outlook: They’re getting a life.

Working With Boomers What they bring to the team Driven and service-oriented Good team players Areas of Conflict Dealing with conflict Self-promoting

What they bring to the team

Driven and service-oriented

Good team players

Areas of Conflict

Dealing with conflict

Self-promoting

Generation X Latchkey kids Digest information rapidly Witnessed corporate downsizing and demise of lifetime employment May not sacrifice personal life for a company

Latchkey kids

Digest information rapidly

Witnessed corporate downsizing

and demise of lifetime employment

May not sacrifice personal life for a company

Working With Gen Xers What they bring to the team Open to receiving feedback Good at networking Areas of Conflict Nomadic Parallel Processing

What they bring to the team

Open to receiving feedback

Good at networking

Areas of Conflict

Nomadic

Parallel Processing

Millennials Cooperative, civic-minded and intellectually curious Have mostly known affluence Meaningful work that makes a difference in the world Value information and technology

Cooperative, civic-minded

and intellectually curious

Have mostly known affluence

Meaningful work that makes a

difference in the world

Value information and technology

Working With Millenials What they bring to the team Good at multi-tasking Appreciate diversity Areas of Conflict Strong parental attachment Need more recognition

What they bring to the team

Good at multi-tasking

Appreciate diversity

Areas of Conflict

Strong parental attachment

Need more recognition

Recognize generational differences when communicating with a co-worker Communicate expectations Appreciate each other’s perspective Respecting Each Other

Recognize generational differences when communicating with a co-worker

Communicate expectations

Appreciate each other’s perspective

Were You Listening? Answer each question True or False.

Answer each question True or False.

There are five different generations in the workplace today. True or False There are four different generations: Silents, Boomers, Generation X, and Millennial Generation False

There are five different generations

in the workplace today.

There are four different generations: Silents, Boomers, Generation X, and Millennial Generation

True or False Boomers were responsible for the sixty hour work week. Boomers believe in promotion through long hours at work and started the 60+ hour workweek. True

Boomers were responsible for

the sixty hour work week.

Boomers believe in promotion through long hours at work and started the 60+ hour workweek.

Xers are the nomadic generation. True or False Generation Xers are independent and not afraid to leave a company if they are not happy. True

Xers are the nomadic generation.

Generation Xers are independent and not afraid to leave a company if they are not happy.

One of the ways to help overcome the conflict between the generations is to spend time learning about your differences. True or False Yes, the more you know about a generation and a person, the better you understand how they work, communicate and view the world. True

One of the ways to help overcome the conflict between the generations is to spend time learning about your differences.

Yes, the more you know about a generation and a person, the better you understand how they work, communicate and view the world.

Companies can benefit from the creativity of the mixed groups. True or False Mixed teamwork can bring about creativity and negative feelings are pushed aside. True

Companies can benefit from the

creativity of the mixed groups.

Mixed teamwork can bring about creativity and negative feelings are pushed aside.

Millennials and Veterans are connected because of their patriotic values. True or False Because of 9-11, Millennials feel a connection to the war generation, the Veterans. True

Millennials and Veterans are connected

because of their patriotic values.

Because of 9-11, Millennials feel a connection to the war generation, the Veterans.

Veterans make up the largest generation in the workplace. True or False The largest generation in the workplace is the Boomer generation. False

Veterans make up the largest

generation in the workplace.

The largest generation in the workplace is the Boomer generation.

Millennials want a work environment that makes a difference in the world. True or False Millennials want to work for a company that is doing something for the outside community. True

Millennials want a work environment that makes a difference in the world.

Millennials want to work for a company that is doing something for the outside community.

Our objective today was to give you a better understanding of the diversity of our workforce. Hopefully you’ve gained knowledge that will help you appreciate and value the generational differences.

Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em – Beverly Kaye & Sharon Jordan-Evans The Learning Café; Generations Issue – Devon Scheef & Diane Thielfoldt Four Generations in the Workplace – Cameron Marston Generations at Work – Ron Zimki, Claire Raines and Bob Filipczak Resources