GENERATIONAL DIVERSITY in the WORKPLACE 1969 Versus 2016
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GENERATIONAL DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE 1969 versus 2016 ! Long Hair ! Longing for Hair ! Acid Rock ! Acid Reflux ! Growing Pot ! Growing a Pot Belly ! Going to a New ! Getting a New Hip Hip Joint Joint ! Screw the System ! Upgrade the System ! Passing the ! Passing the Vision Drivers Test Test ! Rolling Stones ! Kidney Stones Objectives ! Identify characteristics and gain a better understanding of the four generations ! Improve communications and teamwork ! Accept personal responsibility in working together ! Provide tips and suggestions for overcoming generational differences How Generations Differ ! In addition to birth date, a generation is defined by common tastes, attitudes and experiences where they develop their own unique personality. ! Every generation has a defining moment (i.e. The Great Depression, Woodstock, Challenger Explosion, 9-11). ! All members of a generation are deeply affected by the personality of their cohort group. Why Learn About Generational Differences For the first time in history, four generations are working side by side. Different values, experiences, styles, and activities create misunderstandings and frustrations. ! By the year 2008, 80 million Baby Boomer (including many teachers and school leaders) began entering retirement in large numbers ! Generation X, a generation with different sensibilities and priorities than Boomers, will assume positions of leadership in schools and organizations. ! Generation Y, a generation with different sensibilities and priorities than Generation X, are the students and young teachers in our schools. ! The old models of who works and what they work for are steadily changing. Generations ! GI Generation " 1901 – 1924 (115 – 92 years of age) ! Traditionalists/Veterans " 1925 – 1945 (91 – 71 years of age) ! Baby Boomers " 1946 – 1964 (70 – 52 years of age) ! Generation X " 1965 – 1981 (51 – 35 years of age) ! Millennials/Generation Y " 1982 – 2000 (34 – 16 years of age) ! Nexters/Homeland Security " 2001 – present (15 – 0 years of age) Activity 1. Please form groups by age Veterans Boomers Generation X Generation Y 1925 - 1945 1946 - 1964 1965 - 1981 1982 – 2001 2. Discuss significant local or global events, people, experiences from your youth? 3. What do you admire about the other generations? 4. What do you find challenging about the other generations What makes one generation different from another? Shared life experiences Events and Experiences that Shaped Generations ! Traditionalists ! Baby Boomers " Great Depression " Civil rights " New Deal " Feminism " Attack on Pearl " Vietnam Harbor " Cold War " World War II " Space travel " Korean War " Assassinations " Radio and " Scientific advances telephone " Credit cards " Television Events and Experiences that Shaped Generations ! Generation X ! Millennials " Fall of the Berlin Wall " School shootings " Challenger disaster " 9/11 " Desert Storm " OKC bombing " Personal computers " Internet " Working mothers " Child-focused world " MTV " Social networking " Divorce " Continual feedback " Energy crisis " Enron/WorldCom " Iraq/Afghanistan Traditionalists ! Born 1925 to 1945 ! 49 million people ! Grew up with many rules and pressure to conform ! Increased prosperity over their lifetime; however, they remember the Depression ! Work First! ! Children should be seen and not heard ! Expected lifetime career with one employer ! Prefer communication in writing ! Desire to leave a lasting legacy Common Values ! Traditionalists " Hard work " Dedication and sacrifice " Respect for rules " Duty before pleasure " Honor " Conformity " Loyalty " Frugality Baby Boomers ! Born 1946 to 1964 ! 79 million people ! Grew up with fewer rules and a more nurturing environment ! Lived in generally prosperous times, but experienced layoffs ! Women entered workforce in record numbers ! Live to Work! ! Spend quality time with children ! Excelling in their career is important ! Prefer telephone or face-to-face communication ! Desire challenge and opportunity Common Values ! Baby Boomers " Optimism " Team orientation " Personal gratification " Involvement " Personal growth " Workaholics " Competitors Generation X ! Born 1965 to 1981 ! 49 million people ! Grew up as latchkey or day-care children ! Turbulent economic times – downturn in 80s, upswing in 90s ! Work to Live! ! Friends with their child, want to spend quantity time ! Expect their careers to keep moving forward or they will leave ! Prefer electronic communication ! Change from job security to career security Common Values ! Generation X " Diversity " Techno-literacy " Fun and informality " Self-reliance " Pragmatism – realists " Results-oriented " Individualism " Challenge the system Millennials ! Born 1982 to 2000 ! 75 million people ! Attended day care, very involved helicopter parents ! Prosperity has increased over their lifetime ! Live, then Work! ! Achievement-oriented ! Prefer instant or text messaging ! Want to build parallel careers – experts in multitasking Common Values ! Millennials " Optimistic " Civic duty " Confident " Achievement-oriented " Respect for diversity " Informal " Tenacious " Social consciousness The Evolving Workplace Workplace Supply and Demand Trends: " In the 1990s, the number of younger workers declined by 14% " The growth rate of the US labor force declined from 2.5% per year in 1965 to 0% in the 1990s " By 2006, 80 million aging baby boomers totaled one-third of the nations population " From 2010 to 2030, the portion of the U.S. population over age 65 will grow four times as much as it did in the last 80 years " There will be a 30% shortfall of younger workers, a shortfall that will persist for 40 years *Generations: Dealing with Boomers, Gen-X, and Beyond Traditionalists in the Workplace ! Polite ! Respectful ! Reserved ! Obedient ! Conformers Boomers in the Workplace ! Uncomfortable with conflict ! Consensus-building leadership style ! Formal ! Follow protocol ! Social ! Politically sensitive ! Idealistic Gen Xers in the Workplace ! Fast-paced ! Independent ! Confident ! Value personal time ! Challenge the status quo ! Loyal to staff leader Millennials in the Workplace ! Task-oriented ! Want options & choices ! Expect attention ! Expect feedback ! Multitask through multimedia ! Want to use technology ! Work toward weekend or closing time Meet Generation Z Born 2000 to present 57 million of ‘em (so far) ~ 18% of US population Cautious, pragmatic, inspired to change the world! (26% volunteer) 25 2015 Cengage Learning Computing Conference Some Stats… 25% of students pick Apple FIRST when asked to name a popular brand 60% prefer using digital products for coursework 40% of 18-31 year olds live with a parent 2015 Cengage Learning 26 Computing Conference 2015 Cengage Learning 27 Computing Conference True Digital Natives… • Like E-Books • Google for • FOMO instant • 5 device multi- answers • 40% prefer taskers Social talking online to friends • TV & Mobile • Texting over phones are e-mail • Privacy not most popular much of a Prefer Digital • Would rather concern • Media NeedSpeed for give up “snackers” with allowance • Yet – they love 8 second Snapchat, attention spans than Internet Secret, Whisper 2015 Cengage Learning 28 Computing Conference8% in What Does All This Mean? Pragmatic orientation • Explain the WHY at the outset Cautious orientation • Mitigate risk (multiple attempts, online help) Self-Directed, multi-generational upbringing • Don’t need to be “hand held” 2015 Cengage Learning 29 Computing Conference Generational Challenges We Face in the Workplace ! Poor communication ! Decreased productivity, quality and innovation ! Misunderstood attitudes, relationships, and working environments ! Less-engaged volunteers and coworkers ! Lack of motivation, initiative, and teamwork Conflict In The Workplace ! Some conflict is inevitable ! 70% of older employees are dismissive of their younger workers abilities ! Nearly 50% of employers say that younger employees are dismissive of the abilities of their older coworkers On-the-Job Challenges ! Traditionalists and Boomers generally do not question or challenge authority or the status quo. Xers and Millennials have been taught to speak up, and therefore do not understand, and may even resent, what they see as a lack of a backbone or initiative. On-the-Job Challenges ! Gen Xers and Millennials prefer electronic communication. Therefore, they do not like meetings, and many have not developed listening skills. ! Traditionalists and Boomers prefer face- to-face communication. Boomer bosses like to have at least one meeting each week with employees. Bridging the Generation Gaps ! For all employees " Appreciate differences " Acknowledge your interdependency " Appreciate what you have in common Bridging the Generation Gaps ! For all employees " Appreciate differences " Acknowledge your interdependency " Appreciate what you have in common " Take responsibility for making your relationships better " Accept and appreciate anothers perspective Bridging the Generation Gaps ! For all employees " Discuss expectations. Find out what others expect and let them know what you expect. " Inquire about immediate tasks. How does doing A get you to B? " Look for ways to cut bureaucracy and red tape. " Keep up with technology. Bridging the Generation Gaps ! For Managers " Focus on goals to resolve problems without dampening enthusiasm. " Make everyone feel included. Keep an open mind. Encourage each generation to mentor the others. " Break the bonds of tradition. If there is a better way to do something, take the suggestion.