Making the Most of Generational Making the Most of Generational Differences in the Work PlaceDifferences in the Work Place

:

Who are these Workplace Who are these Workplace Generations?Generations?

Baby Boomers

Generation “X”

Generation “Y”

Baby Boomer Baby Boomer

Generation “X”Generation “X”

Generation “Y”Generation “Y”Digital Generation

World events shaping Baby World events shaping Baby Boomers Boomers

Baby Boomer Media InfluenceBaby Boomer Media Influence

Baby Boomer Work HeroesBaby Boomer Work Heroes

• Bill Gates• Oprah Winfrey• Hillary Rodham Clinton• Pat Schroeder• Nancy Pelosi

World events shaping Generation XWorld events shaping Generation X

Generation X Media InfluenceGeneration X Media Influence

Generation X Work HeroesGeneration X Work Heroes

Jerry Yang and David Filo co-creators of Yahoo.com

World events shaping Generation YWorld events shaping Generation Y

Generation Y Media InfluenceGeneration Y Media Influence

Generation Y Work HeroesGeneration Y Work Heroes

““Baby Boomers” Baby Boomers” Political and Cultural InfluencePolitical and Cultural Influence

Boomer MusicBoomer Music

““Generation X” Generation X” Political and Cultural InfluencePolitical and Cultural Influence

Generation “X” MusicGeneration “X” Music

““Generation Y” Generation Y” Political and Cultural InfluencePolitical and Cultural Influence

Generation “Y” MusicGeneration “Y” Music

Characteristics of Baby Boomers Characteristics of Baby Boomers

• Re-evaluate in midlife• Tend to want to regulate personal

behavior• Unusually protective of children• Idealists with strong passions for personal

and social improvements.

Characteristics of “Generation X”Characteristics of “Generation X”

• More tolerant• Delay marriage• Recognize the need to be individually

competitive• Willing to change projects and/or

companies• Display self pride

Characteristics of “Generation Y”Characteristics of “Generation Y”

• Easily adapts to contemporary technology• Non-participation in politics• Places low value on ideology and

formalism• Look to imported beliefs and value

systems from abroad• Cynical world view

Prominent Baby BoomersProminent Baby Boomers

• Bill Clinton – president of the USA• George Bush – president of the USA• Dolly Parton – country singer and songwriter,

actress • Donald Trump – entrepreneur, real estate

developer • Steven Spielberg – pre-eminent American film

director • Stephen King – author

Prominent Generation “X”ersProminent Generation “X”ers

• Jeff Bezos – founder, amazon.com • Nicolas Cage - actor• Michael Dell – founder, Dell, Inc. • Ben Stiller - actor • Mike Tyson – boxer, undisputed heavyweight

champion • Julia Roberts - actress • Timothy McVeigh - Oklahoma City bomber • Sammy Sosa – MLB player, Chicago Cubs

Prominent Generation “Y”Prominent Generation “Y”

• Kelly Clarkson, pop star • Prince William, future King of England, • Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver • Ashley Olsen and Mary Kate Olsen, twin

sisters, actresses • Freddie Adu, soccer player

Driving Factors forDriving Factors forBaby BoomersBaby Boomers

• Preoccupied with financial and employment security.

• Likely to extend midlife well into what used to be considered "old age.“

• Likely to enjoy good health and remain "actively engaged" longer than previous generations.

• Economic inequalities are likely to become more important as the boomers age.

Baby Boomer Work ThemesBaby Boomer Work Themes

• Involvement• Workaholism• Personal gratification and goal attainment• Promotion of equality• Redefining everything• Desire to please• Workarounds to meet their needs• Social consciousness

Work Place Driving Factors for Work Place Driving Factors for Generation XGeneration X

• Looking for a good 401(k) plan" -- not salary -- number one on their list of financial concerns.

• Value flexibility and freedom, especially when it comes to work

• Looking for learning opportunities, up-to-date technology, workforce diversity, and flexibility.

Generation X Work ThemesGeneration X Work Themes

• • Self-reliance• • Focused on building skill-portfolio• • “Work to live, don’t live to work”• • Non-traditional orientation about time and

space• • Unimpressed by authority/hierarchy• • Skepticism• • Live for adventure• • Tech savvy

Work Place Driving Factors for Work Place Driving Factors for Generation YGeneration Y

• Want material comfort and the “good life”.• When working with co-workers and

supervisors they typically demand respect first, reserving the right to prove themselves “later”.

• Demands flexibility at work.• Has the pack mentality.

Generation Y Work ThemesGeneration Y Work Themes

• • Re-emerging social consciousness• • Life-long learning/intellectual curiosity• • Smart work/problem solving• • Team work• • Uninhibited communication• • Emotional literacy• • Holistic lifestyle• • Technology dependence

Impact on EmployersImpact on Employers

• 76,000,000 baby boomers are set to retire by the end of the decade

• Only about 44 million Generation X'ers available to pick up the slack.

• The talent crunch soon will be felt in technical and scientific fields

Work environments that attract or Work environments that attract or repel Gen. X: repel Gen. X:

Traditional Workplace• Security from the

institution • Promotions based on

longevity • Loyalty to the

organization • Wait to be told what to

do • Respect based on

position/title

New Generation Workplace• Security from within • Promotions based on

performance • Loyalty to the team • Challenge authority • You must earn respect

Tips For Improving Generation “X” Tips For Improving Generation “X” Retention and ProductivityRetention and Productivity

• Be approachable• Take time to be personal• Encourage employee growth• Performance based promotions and

rewards• Help employees “see the big picture”• Build morale

Work environments that attract or Work environments that attract or repel Gen. Y:repel Gen. Y:

• Seek intellectual challenge and thrill from work

• They desire work that fits comfortably into what they want out of their lives

• Do not want their work to seem menial or mundane

Training the “Generations” to meet Training the “Generations” to meet the upcoming Demandthe upcoming Demand

• What types of materials are available?• What types of training materials are suited

for each group?• What learning environment is effective for

each?

Types of Training MaterialsTypes of Training Materials

• Tech Manuals• Training Materials (Hard Copy)• Video Based Training• Training Materials (on Intranet)• Computer Based Training (interactive)• PowerPoint Presentations (interactive)

What types of training materials What types of training materials are suitable for each group?are suitable for each group?

What learning environment is What learning environment is effective for each?effective for each?