1. September 2009September 2009
SHC Staff Development & Education Candace Malone, HRDSHC Staff Development & Education Candace Malone, HRD
GENERATIONAL
DifferencesDifferences inin thethe WorkplaceWorkplace
2. • Participants will become aware of the values and expectations
of different generations.
• Participants will learn how to incorporate the different
learning styles into the development of the
Preceptor/Preceptee relationship.
• Participants will conduct a case study where session material
will be applied and assessed.
ObjectivesObjectives
3. DID YOU KNOW?DID YOU KNOW?
Previous life experiences weighPrevious life experiences weigh
heavily on how someoneheavily on how someone
relates to you, learns, andrelates to you, learns, and
completes job tasks.completes job tasks.
4.
5. PONDER THIS…PONDER THIS…
Does the time period in
which you grow up
impact the way you
Learn? Work? Parent?
Communicate?
6. Here's an idea:Here's an idea:
This comes from Margaret Weigel, who has worked at Harvard and MIT doing
research on digital media engagement:
"We should not judge people rigidly by the"We should not judge people rigidly by the
years they were born," she says, "If weyears they were born," she says, "If we
want to define people by categories, itwant to define people by categories, it
should be by behaviors because this isshould be by behaviors because this is
something each of us chooses."something each of us chooses."
7. The Silent GenerationThe Silent Generation
1925-19421925-1942“Youth today is waiting for the hand of
fate to fall on its shoulders, meanwhile
working fairly hard and saying almost
nothing. The most startling fact about
the younger generation is its silence.
With some rare exceptions, youth is
nowhere near the rostrum.
By comparison with the Flaming Youth
of their fathers & mothers, today's
younger generation is a still, small
flame. It does not issue manifestoes,
make speeches or carry posters. It has
been called the Silent Generation.”
As stated by Time Magazine in 1951
9. What they privately think ofWhat they privately think of
Gen X/Y:Gen X/Y:
•• Lazy—no work ethic; not willing
to work hard
• Rude—lack social skills; whiners
• Spend too much time on the internet
• Grew up and live on “easy street”
10. • A “you owe me attitude”
• Haven’t paid their dues
• Always do things their own way
• Nothing to offer professionally—
“I’ve done it all”
What they privately think ofWhat they privately think of
Gen X/Y:Gen X/Y:
11. The oldest Baby Boomers are 63
years old this year and have been
eligible to collect Social Security
for a year. The youngest Baby
Boomers are 45 and are just in the
midst of their mid-life crises with
families and jobs.
The oldest Baby Boomers often
define themselves as
remembering exactly where
they were when President John
Kennedy was assassinated in
November 1963. The youngest
Baby Boomers weren't born yet.
12. Generation X 1961-1980Generation X 1961-1980
““Free Agents”Free Agents”
““work to live”work to live”
““self-reliant”self-reliant”
““fairness is must”fairness is must”
““flexibility”flexibility”
““outspoken”outspoken”
““feedback junkies”feedback junkies”
““no threats”no threats”
13. What’s a Cusper?What’s a Cusper?
When the younger of their two
overlapping generations feels like it's
not being heard, a Cusper can
provide a voice.
14. Generation Y (The Millennials)Generation Y (The Millennials)
1981-20011981-2001
Because children born during this time period
have had constant access to technology
(computers, cell phones) in their youth, they
have required many employers to update their
hiring strategy in order to incorporate updated
forms of technology.
15. A clip about young Americans' views on the media from the PBS documentary "Generation Next." Check
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/generation-next/airdates.html
16. What they privately think ofWhat they privately think of
Boomers:Boomers:
• Workaholics—
“Do you have a life outside of here?”
• Self righteous
• Too political—always trying to figure
out the pecking order
• Need lighten up, it’s only a job
17. What they privately thinkWhat they privately think
of Boomers:of Boomers:
• Entitlement vs. performance
• Why won’t you train me?
• What is the point of this task?
• You’re “old”, Technology is old
18. Generation Z (The Zippies)Generation Z (The Zippies)
2002-20182002-2018
What do they think?
What do they talk about?
What do they want?
What should they do?
19.
20. Generation ZGeneration Z
• Will continue to be engaged in
educational pursuits
• Vertically challenged
• Subject to bizarre food cravings and
sugar rushes
• Born with an extra digital
chromosome
24. The Silent Generation established the authorityThe Silent Generation established the authority
system.system.
TheThe Baby BuildersBaby Builders (Cuspers)(Cuspers) submitted to thatsubmitted to that
authority system.authority system.
The Baby Boomers rebelled against that authorityThe Baby Boomers rebelled against that authority
system.system.
Generation X ignored that authority system.Generation X ignored that authority system.
Generation Y thinks they are the authorityGeneration Y thinks they are the authority
system.system.
33. Remember that each GenerationRemember that each Generation
has key differences and similaritieshas key differences and similarities
Consider the previous themesConsider the previous themes
and characteristics of eachand characteristics of each
Treat each other with RespectTreat each other with Respect
34. Adjust learning &Adjust learning &
management stylesmanagement styles
based onbased on
generationgeneration
Refers to the generation coming of age at the time, born during the Great Depression or World War II
The phrase gained further currency after William Manchester's comment that the members of this generation were "withdrawn, cautious, unimaginative, indifferent, unadventurous and silent." The name was used by Strauss and Howe in their book Generations as their designation for that generation in the United States of America born from 1925 to 1945.
The generation is also known as the Postwar Generation and the Seekers, when it is not neglected altogether and placed by marketers in the same category as the G.I., or "Greatest", Generation. In England they were named the Air Raid Generation as children growing up amidst the crossfire of World War II.
Silent Generation members are generally the offspring of The Lost Generation and the parents of Generation X, as well as the younger baby boomers.
From Wikipedia:
Generation Jones is a term coined by Jonathan Pontell to describe the generation of people born between 1954 and 1965.
Generation Jones is a term coined by Jonathan Pontell to describe the generation of people born between 1954 and 1965. 1954 and 1965.
The name “Generation Jones” has several connotations, including a large anonymous generation, a “Keeping up with the Joneses” competitiveness and the slang word "jones" or “jonesing”, meaning a yearning or craving.[7] [8][9][10][11] It is said that Jonesers were given huge expectations as children in the 1960s, and then confronted with a different reality as they came of age in the 1970s, leaving them with a certain unrequited, jonesing quality.
The election to the presidency of Barack Obama, born in 1961, focused more attention on Generation Jones. Many journalists, publications, and experts have pointed out that Obama is a member of Generation Jones, including Jonathan Alter (Newsweek),[37] David Brooks (The New York Times) and Karen Tumulty (Time Magazine).[38][39][40][41]
Key characteristics: less optimistic, distrust of government, general cynicism.[42][35]
The use of Generation Jones is meant to distinguish the younger Boomers from the older ones.
What marks us, according to Pontell, is an intense yearning, an unrequited craving (or "jonesing", in '70s teen lingo). We crave what we missed out on. We were "forged in the fires of social upheaval [in the 1960s] while too young to play a part", says Pontell. We long to meet boomer expectations, to keep up with the Joneses, but less prosperity and opportunity has made us see boomer idealism as unrealistic.
Latch-key kids/after school specials
Grunge gen seen as slackers…just not team players
Definition
A label attributed to people born during the 1980s and early 1990s. Members of Generation Y are often referred to as echo boomers because they are the children of parents born during the baby boom (baby boomers).
Also called millenials, echo boomers, internet generation, iGen, net generation.
The Silent Generation, having come through the Industrial Revolution, established our present day
workplace ethic. They helped us make the shift from a predominantly agricultural society to a
manufacturing one. With manufacturing becoming the focus, retail businesses were necessary to sell
product. Retail businesses needed "white collar workers" for management and sales.
The Silent Generation took the work ethic of the farm into the factory and the office. Work hard, go the extra mile, treat others the way you would like to be treated. Their role models were their parents, the families at church, and the characters in classical literature.
Your Baby Builder employees as a whole work hard, go the extra mile, and treat others the way they
would like to be treated. They submit to your authority, office policies, and the rules and regulations of
the community. In their youth, radio and moving pictures had become popular and news about the war
was shown at each movie theatre. Role models were radio and movie personalities, Eisenhower and
Churchill.
Your Baby Boomer employees grew up rebelling against authority. Remember the 60s? Major reforms
in education, protests of the war, the hippie movement, drugs, sex, women's rights. Everything was
questioned. They reserved the right to argue. Television had been invented and was available to most
families. Their world became bigger. Role models were still mostly traditional with Wally and June
Cleaver sleeping in twin beds. But television brought us deviations from the norm. My Three Sons
and Bonanza introduced single parenting, Elvis's pelvic gyrations would not be shown by television
producers, and Ed Sullivan helped change music forever when he introduced America to the Beatles
and the British invasion.
Your Generation X employees tend to ignore authority. Their parents used the Dr. Spock theories on
child rearing--be your child's friend, give them freedom of expression. They don't seem to hear what
you say unless you let them talk and be involved in the decision making. They grew up with fast paced
educational and interactive television, computer games, and video arcades. Their attention span is
shorter, they require short term assignments, and immediate rewards. This is the generation where their
parents had them in every after-school activity they could find. They are used to going to more than just
school and home every day. Having a 20-year career in ANY industry frightens them to death. Many
have already had multiple jobs in diverse industries. Role models are computer games, The Simpsons,
Married With Children, O.C., Julia Roberts, Bon Jovi, Kurt Cobain.
By 2040 they will outnumber the Baby Boomers by their 39.6 to Boomers' 37.1 million. (U.S. Census Bureau)
Photo info:
(Clockwise from left) Ellie Cornell (left) and Joanna Pettet in "Just Tipsy, Honey." Eric Wallace (left) and Clarence Williams III in "The Hero Who Couldn't Read." In "Schoolboy Father," Rob Lowe fought to keep his child.
Generation Y employees are just entering the workplace. They have a hard time understanding the
Boomer concept of seniority, and experience equals higher pay, and privileges are predicated
upon responsibility. They generally believe that what they want they should get--now. Interestingly,
there is a rise in patriotism among this group. Main point they have is experience doesn’t equal performance.--I agree
The main difference -- they believe they ARE the authority. In reality, given another 35 years, they will be. By 2040, they will number 73.4 million (U.S. Census Bureau) and will likely usher in a work place ethic like none before.
have attitudes different than your own
high expectations of self and see themselves working better and faster than others
don’t have company loyalty, and might scoff at yours
don’t have a sense of urgency or respect for deadlines
don’t prioritize based on the hierarchy – the boss’ request is not more important than a colleague’s
want tight deadlines to build up a sense of accomplishment, and may fight the deadlines on the way
have a strong sense of entitlement – what you have earned should be available to them as well
were raised by parents who wanted to be their friends and were often not held accountable to their actions
Some skills to work on…
Handout #3:
Leading Gen Y in the Workplace
Go over (4) tools
