1. UPMC Public Relations/Alan Gintzler
Extra/ Inclusion series
Inclusion in the workplace
At UPMC, inclusion is at the core of what we do every day. Inclusion begins with a core belief
that everyone deserves dignity and respect. Inclusion means every person is valued, and all
contributions are welcomed. We are each a part of and contribute to a broad community of
people with different backgrounds and experiences that enrich our workplaces.
Each month in Extra, we will highlight a part of the community that makes up UPMC. Each
person and group brings unique talents, histories, and skills that advance our mission of
providing outstanding patient care. The Employee Partnership Council sponsored by the Center
for Inclusion at UPMC recognizes and supports our diverse staff members.
Generations
Inclusion begins with you. The multiple generations of people that comprise UPMC staff
members include us all. We are sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, grandparents and even
great-grandparents, each with personal histories and collective histories shared by our age
groups. At UPMC, we work side by side among patients and visitors who also share our
generational experiences.
There are four unique generations in the workplace. Although each person is a unique individual,
we all share certain traits and characteristics with others of our generation. By understanding our
generational differences and similarities, we can more effectively work together and foster a
culture of dignity and respect.
Traditionalists
For instance, Traditionalists, born between 1920 and 1945, are typically hard working, respectful
of authority, and disciplined in their work habits. Traditionalists tend to be loyal and usually
conform in work and social situations. Do you work with members of this generation? What
have you learned from their strengths and experience?
Baby Boomers
Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are the largest of the generational groups.
“Boomers” tend to be optimistic and view work as an exciting adventure. They highly value
education and like to be actively involved in many things. Boomers tend to be very willing to
share what they know, which is extremely valuable in the workplace.
Gen X

2. Members of Generation X were born between 1965 and 1979 and strongly value the work/life
balance. They thrive on diversity, challenge, and creative input. “Gen Xers” are ambitious and
hardworking and place a premium on family time.
You can see how the community of inclusion is growing with these first three generations, each
with unique traits that offer strengths such as discipline and focus on the job, as well as
experimentation and challenge.
Millennials
Add Generation Y to the mix, those born between 1980 and 2000. Also called Millennials, they
are the most technologically savvy of our generations. Where would we be without them?
Millennials are excellent multi-taskers, optimistic, creative, and achievement-oriented.
Across Generations
Of course generational traits are only generalities. Individuals frequently have characteristics that
cross generations. In fact, we share more across generations than we sometimes think, such as
how all generations deserve and want dignity and respect. However, we can use what we know
about generational traits to better understand how our co-workers approach their jobs and
relationships on the job.
We can use each other’s strengths to build stronger workplace teams. Generational
characteristics also can help us understand our patients better. Let’s use what we know about our
generational differences and approaches to find common ground. Our shared success lies in our
inclusiveness.
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