11/21/2019 Managing Generational Differences There probably isn't a company in America that isn't wrestling with the issue of managing different generations. 1 11/21/2019 Generational diversity can have an impact on the way employees perform, the way they perceive the organization, and the way they interact with one another. Let’s Talk About What are the traits, beliefs, and life experiences that mark each generation, influencing how they work, communicate, and respond to change? What kinds of challenges does this present for today’s employers? How do generational workforce differences affect our ability to manage people effectively? 2 11/21/2019 Diversity and the Workplace The workplace is diverse in many ways -- race, gender, cultural and religious background, educational and economic background, age, and ability. Generational diversity focuses on differences among employees based on the generation in which a person grew up. A generation has been defined as a period of roughly 20 years. There are five generations in today’s workforce. Generations are shaped by history and events, technological advances, social changes, economic conditions, popular culture, etc. Generational Diversity in the Workplace Today Five generations in the workplace today: The Silent Generation Baby Boomers Generation X Generation Y (Millennials) Generation Z 3 11/21/2019 Let’s Look at the Generations 4 11/21/2019 The Generations – The Silent Generation Also known as Veterans, Traditionalists or Matures Born before 1945 They are 70’s to 90’s 24 million in U.S. There are very few of them left in the workplace and their numbers are decreasing rapidly The Generations – Baby Boomers Also known as “Me” generation Born after World War II and into the early 1960s They are mid 50’s to early 70’s 76 million in U.S. 5 11/21/2019 The Generations – Generation X Also known as Baby Busters or Latchkey Kids Born in the mid-1960s to 1980 They are 40 to mid 50’s 82 million in U.S. The Generations – Millennials (Gen Y) Also known as Generation Y, Generation Next or Echo Boomers Born in the early 1980s to the mid 1990s They are mid 20’s to late 30’s 73 million in the U.S. 6 11/21/2019 The Generations – Generation Z The newest group Born late 1990s to 2010s They are early teens to early 20’s Nearly 74 million in U.S. Just starting to enter the workforce so not a lot is known – We will learn a lot more in the next 5-10 years RH1 U.S. Population by Generation 7 Slide 14 RH1 Rhonda Housley, 1/16/2019 11/21/2019 By 2030, the U.S. workforce will consist of Millennials (44%) , Gen X (25%), Gen Z (22%) and Boomers (9%). 8 11/21/2019 Formative Influences To understand the differences among the generations in the workforce, it’s important to look at the influences and experiences that shaped their formative years. Formative Influences: Silent Generation Referred to as “silent” because back in the day children were expected to be seen rather than heard. Came of age in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Grew up on radio rather than TV. Lived through the Depression and heard about the hardships from parents/grandparents -- something they would never forget. Shaped by World War II -- many of them fought and were injured. Younger Silent Generation may have fought in the Korean War, or most likely their fathers did. 9 11/21/2019 Formative Influences: Baby Boomer Raised in an era of economic prosperity. The TV generation -- grew up with Howdy Doody,” “Gunsmoke,” “I Love Lucy.” The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s was also a powerful influence for this generation. Influenced by the assassinations of President Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Senator Robert Kennedy. Vietnam War -- and the protest movement that grew as a result. Experienced the effects of the Beatles and Rolling Stones, Woodstock, the sexual revolution, and the drug culture in the late sixties -- when many were coming of age in their late teens and early twenties. Early astronauts circling the earth and walking on the moon in July 1969. Concerns about planet earth -- the new environmental movement was largely made up of Baby Boomers at first. Birth Control Pill was introduced Formative Influences: Generation X The first computer generation – Personal Computers were introduced -- by the time they got to the workplace the technology boom was just beginning. Women entered the workplace in numbers unprecedented since World War II. Watergate, end of the Vietnam War, and the energy crisis were the big issues in the seventies. In the late seventies, it was the hostages in Iran—an incident that fore-shadowed the terrorism of our times. The Reagan era in the eighties was a major influence. The “Evil Empire” of the Soviet Union, covert wars in Central America, and high inflation at home were key issues of the time. And, of course, while the Baby Boomers had their Woodstock and hippies, the eighties ushered in the Yuppies and a life of excess. Raised in an era of economic uncertainty – layoff of parents, recession. Spent less time with their parents than previous generations. They were latchkey kids, not coddled, learned parents were human and fallible. First generation who saw their parents get divorced and/or laid off. First generation predicted to earn less than their parents. 10 11/21/2019 Formative Influences: Millennials The first true Internet generation – including cell phones and computers at school and in nearly every middle-class home. Affected by war and watched military actions involving the U.S. Watched the horrific scenes of terrorism on TV—first the Oklahoma City bombing and then 9/11. And they saw video of the first school shootings by and of members of their own generation. Grew into their teens and early twenties in a time of economic prosperity. The stock market was booming in the nineties and just about everybody who wanted to work or could work could find a job—even teens could get a job easily in the service sector. Most scheduled childhoods in U.S. history. Attributes & Attitudes 11 11/21/2019 Attributes & Attitudes: Silent Generation Brought up either in hard times or with parental memories of hard times -- this influenced them to believe in the work ethic, loyalty, and dedication to their employer. Focus on responsibility, duty, and sacrifice in terms of their employment and their families. Have respect for authority, rules, and law and order. Their word is their bond. Willing to work hard and “pay their dues” over the years, put in the hours and do the hard work to get promotions and raises. They never expected to be given a free lunch or a free ride. Keep their job for life if they chose to. Many were solid union supporters who believed in seniority rights, the power of the union to protect their jobs, and the gratitude of their employer for their loyalty, dedication, and hard work. Attributes & Attitudes: Baby Boomer Raised to respect authority. Grew up in a time when rights were a big issue—in schools, voting booths, housing, and workplaces. Protests against power. Came to work with the idea that they had rights as employees and employers had to respect their rights. Brought the optimism of the sixties and the belief that change could and should occur, and that at work as everywhere else in their lives, there were lots of possibilities within their grasp. More interested in career and personal growth than the previous generation. Equate work with self-worth, contribution, and personal fulfillment. Are competitive and believe in loyalty and dedication to the organization. Big on teamwork and participation. When moved into positions of power in the workplace, put an emphasis on these strategies, which have been widely adopted and have proved very successful in American enterprises of all kinds. They are a special generation capable of changing the world. 12 11/21/2019 Attributes & Attitudes: Generation X Tend to be independent and self-reliant -- may consider rules as guidelines rather than absolutes. Use what works and work with what they have at hand. Growth oriented and interested in career advancement. Comfortable with technology and keep up to date on workplace changes. Many need challenges to keep them interested and performing at their best. Value flexibility and informality in their jobs. Like to have fun. Balance between life and work –work to live, not live to work. Expect to have multiple employers, perhaps even multiple careers. Not overly loyal to employers. For the first time, women in the workplace are as educated as men. Question authority figures and are not intimidated by them. Money does not necessarily motivate them, but the lack of money might make them lose motivation. Attributes & Attitudes: Millennials Fairly new to the workplace -- but for the most part they appear to be: Independent Confident Optimistic Wired to every kind of technology -- tech/web savvy Multitaskers Respectful of diversity Most educated generation thus far in American history Grew up with pressured, tight schedules, little spontaneity Were sheltered and highly protected as children Demand immediate feedback and recognition Expect to have many employers and multiple careers 13 11/21/2019 Miscellaneous Aspirations Silent Generation – Home Ownership Baby Boomers – Job Security Gen X – Work/Life Balance Millennials – Freedom and Flexibility 14 11/21/2019 Attitude Toward Technology Silent Generation – Largely disengaged Brought up on Radio Baby Boomers – Early IT adaptors Brought up on TV Gen