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The Generation Gap in the Workplace
The Generation Gap in the Workplace
Bridging the Generation Divide in the Workplace
Christine Hassler, M.A.
2008 IFMA SymposiumSeptember 10, 2008
25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
www.christinehassler.com
25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century What is a Generation?
• Defined by similar formative years
• Shaped by:
– Parenting trends
– Life Span
– Changes in technology
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
MaturesBorn before1945
Baby BoomersBorn 1946-1964
Gen XBorn 1965-1979
Gen Y Born 1980-2000
First time in History . . . A Four Generation Workforce:
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
Current Generational Landscape
In The Workforce Now:• Matures at 5%• Boomers at 45%• Gen X at 40%• Gen Y at 10%
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st CenturyWhat the Future Looks Like:
• Over the next 2-3 years, Gen Y’ers will outnumber Baby Boomers
• The self-employed category will grow 5% more from 2004 to 2014 compared to previous decades
• Between 1977 and 2007, employment of workers 65 and over increased 101%
• The gaps between generations are getting bigger and bigger. . .
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century Generational Continuum:
We, Nation, Team, Company
I, My, Individual, “What’s in it for me?”
Whatever it takes, Hours, Visibility, Face time
TIME • TEAMWORK • TECHNOLOGY
Success = Balance, Time as a Currency, Ownership
Luxury, Intimidating, Diversions, Toys
Reliance, Flexibility, New Skills
A S S U M P T I O N S
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
How Do Organizations Bridge The Generational Gaps?
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
MATURES (TRADITIONALISTS)Born: 1928 to 1945
Teens: 1942 to 1963, Today 63+ 30 Million
Formative Events:• Homogeneous families
and neighbors, conformity• WWII• Great Depression • Pearl Harbor• First manned space flight• Significant increase in
economic prosperity• Growth in white collar jobs
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st CenturyMATURES: Traits
• Strong Military connection – duty and sacrifice • Respectful of authority / Hierarchical• Loyal to institutions / companies• “We First”• Motivated by financial rewards and security• Most Affluent Generation in our Nation• Work ethic measured in timelines• Delayed Gratification• Heroes: Groups
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
BABY BOOMERSBorn: 1946 to 1964
Teens: 1960 to 1982, Today: 44 to 62 years old80 Million
Formative Events:• Civil Rights Movement
and Feminist Movement• Vietnam War• Assassinations of
idealistic leaders • Watergate and Nixon’s
resignation• The Cold War
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
• Most Influential Generation in Population• Work-a-holic• Anti-authoritarian• Motivated by changing the world• Last generation to pay dues in a traditional ways• Believe teamwork is critical to success• Expect loyalty from those they work with• Running the show• Heroes: People they’ve never met
BOOMERS: Traits
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
GEN X Born:1965 to 1979
Teens:1980 to 1998,Today: 28 to 43 years old45 Million
Formative Events• Watergate• End of the Cold War – fall of the Berlin Wall• Challenger Explosion • The Gulf War• The PC boom and Growth of the Internet• The Reagan Presidency• Women more fully integrated into the workforce• Significant increase in their parents’ divorce rates &
unemployment
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century GEN X: Traits
• Skeptical / Cynical• Prove it to me• Independent / Loners• Live for today, “carpe diem”• Work / Life balance• Believe their value is not in what they do, but in
what they know• Heroes: People they know who have proven
themselves
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
Formative Events:• Oklahoma City Bombing• 9/11, Terrorism • Columbine• Global Warming• Katrina• Internet Boom• Dual-income Families• Strong Economy• Kid-centric Culture
GEN Y (MILLENIALS)Born:1978 – 2000
Today (2008): 8 to 28 yrs old77 Million
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
• Confident• Socially conscious• Diverse & highly tolerant• Overscheduled • Consumers of EVERYTHING • Grew up in a world ubiquitous with technology• Known affluence & fame their whole lives• Immediate and eager to live life “now” • Heroes: Parents
GEN Y: Traits
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st CenturySee the Gap:
Summary of Different Views
Around Job Change
Matures – Believes it carries stigma
Boomers – Believes it puts you behind
Gen X – Believes it is necessary
Gen Y – Believes it is routine
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st CenturySee the Gap:
Summary of Different Views
Around Career Goals
Matures – Belief in building a legacy
Boomers – Belief in building an incredible career
Gen X – Belief in building a portable, flexible career
Gen Y – Belief in building a parallel, passionate career
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st CenturySee the Gap:
Summary of Different Views
Around Work Ethic
Matures – We First / Nose to the grindstone
Boomers – Pay your dues / Workaholic
Gen X – Prove it to me
Gen Y – Instant Gratification
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century See the Gap:Summary of Different Views
Around Training
Matures – Learn from experience
Boomers – Learn from working hard
Gen X – Learn from training and networking
Gen Y – Continuous learning / Formal education and experience
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st CenturySee the Gap:
Summary of Different Views
Around Identity
Matures – Blend in
Boomers – Who I am is what I do
Gen X – Define themselves outside the office
Gen Y – Individuals with herd mentality
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
www.christinehassler.com
25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
• Show Respect, Listen Attentively • Acknowledge Contributions . . . Humbly• Value their wisdom• Be spoken and written• Be clear, especially about changes• Invite discussion• Offer insights about co-workers and clients
Best Practices: MATURES
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
• Acknowledge Team & Individual Contributions• Value “face time”• Be succinct• Provide resources/tools to keep them up-to-date
and competitive• Retire Retirement• Offer them options for greater responsibility (as
well as less)• Encourage giving back
Best Practices: BOOMERS
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
• Time is a Currency• Recognize their identity is outside the workplace• Customization and Flexibility (family friendly)• Offer a variety of career paths with multiple next
steps• Networking (“seen and be seen”)• Leverage Their Entrepreneurial Instincts• Money• Talk short-term• Prove it to them
Best Practices: GEN X
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st CenturyGEN Y
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
Gen Y’s Workplace Expectations
• To be challenged and rewarded
• To do meaningful work (“what dues?”)
• To be promoted within a year
• To be paid well
• To have work/life balance
• To work for a socially / environmentally conscious company
• To be treated respectfully
• To communicate via multiple channels
• To learn new knowledge and transferable skills that support job mobility
From various sources, including Carolyn Martin’s and Bruce Tulgan’s work on Generation Y in the workplace.
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
Best Practices: GEN Y
• Make their first day unforgettable• Map out their career path• Design jobs – and the workplace – for collaboration• Provide frequent acknowledgement and feedback• Give detailed explanations and rationale• Co-create accountability and expectations, be specific• Bursts of Short Information• Help them itemize and prioritize• Intrinsically motivate
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
Best Practices: GEN Y (cont)
• Allow (encourage) asynchronous work• Open-door policy• Balance menial work with meaningful work• Teach soft skills• Offer entertaining and experiential training/projects• Use state-of-the art technology and multi-media• Reward with time • Celebrate their success • Be a coach• Remember . . . They are sensitive!!!
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century Four Step CAREfrontation with Gen Y:
1. What is the situation?
2. What can I do?
3. What can YOU do?
4. What can WE do?
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
• 6-7 million are entering the workforce in the next three years
• By 2010 they will make up the entire 18-34 demographic
• Global minded• Socially and environmentally conscious• Innovative networking style• Multi-processing and tasking• Highly skilled, adaptable to change• Eager and willing to commit themselves• Reverse mentoring opportunities
Why Gen Y!!!!!Why Gen Y????
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
• Invest in technology• Gen Y friendly on-line presence • Set up mentoring and reverse mentoring opportunities• Deliver what you say you will• Be transparent• Address parents as a part of your workforce strategy • Address how you will help them achieve their goals• Implement social and environmental conscious
practices• Offer competitive salaries, benefits and opportunity for
advancement
Attracting GEN Y
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25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st CenturyBridging the Generational Gaps:
• Provide a variety of flexible arrangements that cater to each generation
• More opportunities for generations to work together
• Invest in top notch education and training in all forms
• Re-recruit every day• Invite Open Dialogue • Create space for creative ideas• Set up mentoring and reverse mentoring
opportunities• Prepare for the next Generations!
www.christinehassler.com
25 Years of Chapter History
2008 SymposiumFacilities Management
for the 21st Century
Futurizing your organization – that is, creating an organization that thinks in the future tense and acts in the present – is a prerequisite for success in a rapidly
changing and uncertain world.
~James L. Morrison, World Future Society
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The Generation Gap in the Workplace
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