Panel presentation on bridging the generation gap

1. Bridging the Generation Gap

2. If government
was depicted
as a pop culture
family…

3. …would
we be
more like
this?

4. …or
this?

5. Or maybe even…
like this?

6. however we see
ourselves…
we’d better learn
to get along

7. For the next
56 minutes…
Gens and Gov Overview
Gen Y Perspective
Boomer Perspective
Your Questions

8. Four Generations
Defined by: demographics, media, pop culture, market research
Shaped by: shared childhood experiences, early-adulthood actions
Intended to: stereotype understand common traits

9. Four Generations
Traditionals / Baby Gen Y /
Gen X
Matures Boomers Millennials
Born: 1920-30s 1946-1964 1965-1978 1979-2000
Mid 60s Mid-40s to 30s to Tweens
Age:
to 70s Mid-60s Mid-40s to 20s

10. Four Generations
Traditionals Boomers Gen X Gen Y
Work: By Book Get It Done Efficient Deadlines
Boss: Command Seniority So? Tell, Do, Praise
Personal: Work | Home Work First Balance Blend
Advance: Experience Earned It Eh? Eager
For more detailed info, please see http://www.slideshare.net/govloop/

11. Four Generations
Caveat:
“Curmudgeons
come in all ages.”
- Tiffany Smith, State Department

12. Gen Trends in Government
60% of Federal workers eligible to retire by 2015
90% of senior executive leaders
70% of Boomers expect to never retire
45% of Federal new hires open to “govies for life”
42% of college upper class interested in gov’t

13. What This Means For You
Adapt WYSIWYG, baby
Prepare for your moment to rise
Learn from mentors / senior leaders

14. Gen Y Perspective
Top 5: Things
Gov Newbies
Need to Know

15. Gen Y Perspective
1: You’re not
the best
thing since
sliced bread

16. Gen Y Perspective
2: If you
have
needs,
communicate
them.

17. Gen Y Perspective
3: You
can’t
do it
all alone.

18. Gen Y Perspective
4: Pay
attention
to the
culture.

19. Gen Y Perspective
5: Learn
when
to shut up.

20. Gen Y Perspective
Moral: Keep an open mind
and have a learner’s attitude.

21. Baby Boomer Perspective
We ain’t leaving just yet and
we’d like to work with you…

22. Are Boomers Really Retiring?

23. Are Boomers Really Retiring?
Moral:
Hang in
there,
Gen Y!
23

24. Early Technology Experiences
Ever heard of or know how it worked (?)
 Typing tests as part of employment process
Typing pool
Carbon paper
Correction fluid
Key punch machine
First facsimile machines
Dictation machines
Newsletters

25. Lack of Communication?
Imagine:
No call waiting
No cell phones
No pagers
No answering machines
No internet
No VTCs
Two party lines
Five digit phone numbers

26. Employee Viewpoint Survey
- Survey of HHS employees worldwide
- Rolls up into “Best Places to Work” study
- What can we learn about
preferences based on age?

27. Opportunities from the Survey
AVERAGE SCORES FOR EACH CATEGORY
Survey Questions - make-up of categories
Recruitment, Learning
Personal Work Development, & (Knowledge Job Satisfaction
Year Experience Retention Performance Culture Leadership Management) Satisfaction with Benefits
2008 Questions: (1 - 10) (11 - 21) (22 - 36) (37 - 47) (48 - 54) (55 - 63) (64 - 74)
EVS Data: Total Agree
Recruitment, Learning
Personal Work Development, & (Knowledge Job Satisfaction
Operating Division Experience Retention Performance Culture Leadership Management) Satisfaction with Benefits
Over 40 72% 66% 51% 53% 66% 52% 51%
Under 40 72% 68% 52% 56% 70% 56% 52%
EVS Data: Total Disagree
Recruitment, Learning
Personal Work Development, & (Knowledge Job Satisfaction
Operating Division Experience Retention Performance Culture Leadership Management) Satisfaction with Benefits
Over 40 13% 16% 23% 19% 15% 24% 8%
Under 40 12% 15% 21% 16% 14% 22% 10%

28. Opportunities from the Survey
Top 5 Most Important Thing for Boomers
Top 5 Most Important Thing for Boomers
Item Question Total Agree Total Disagree 100%
90% 88% 86% 85% 84%
20 The work I do is important. 90% 3% 80%
Employees use information technology (for
60%
54 example, intranet, shared networks) to perform 88% 4%
work.
40%
69 How satisfied are you with paid vacation time? 86% 5%
20%
6 I like the kind of work I do. 85% 5% 4% 5% 5% 6%
3%
How satisfied are you with paid leave for illness 0%
(for example, personal), including family care
20
54
69
6
70
70 84% 6%
situations (for example, childbirth/adoption or Question Stem / Question Number
eldercare)? Total Agree Total Disagree
Top 5 Most Important Thing for Gen X & Y
Item Question Total Agree Total Disagree Top 5 Most Important Thing for Gen X & Y
Employees use information technology (for 100% 89% 89%
85% 83% 83%
54 example, intranet, shared networks) to perform 89% 4%
80%
work.
20 The work I do is important. 89% 3% 60%
I know how my work relates to the agency's
19 85% 5% 40%
goals and priorities.
33 I am held accountable for achieving results. 83% 5% 20%
5% 5% 9%
4% 3%
The people I work with cooperate to get the job
1 83% 9% 0%
done.
54
20
19
33
1
Question Stem / Question Number
Total Agree Total Disagree
28

29. What Boomer Leaders Want
• Dependability
• Plain language
• No surprises but…
• Watch over communicating
• Protocol or process
• Learn how to manage your manager
• Professional etiquette

30. Questions?