BEACON Training: Generation Diversity at Work
Today’s workplaces are diverse in many ways. The traditional way of looking at diversity has been by focusing on the employee’s gender, age, race, and marital status. Although these are indeed differences, sociologists are now focusing on the impact of generation diversity as a defining characteristic in communication, productivity, and attitude in the contemporary workplace. BEACON WorkLife Connections is providing a very exciting and informative training titled Generation Diversity at Work which has already been presented to more than 500 participants in numerous worksite settings over the past year.
For the first time in history, there are now four generations laboring side by side in the US Workforce. Each generation has it’s own defining characteristics which are sometimes complimentary but many times antagonistic to the other generations’. Below is a brief sketch of the generations at work. See where you are in this fascinating mix.
Traditionalists
- Loyal.
- “Waste not, want not.”
- Born between 1920 and 1945.
- 10% of population.
- Determination.
- Sacrifice.
- Hard Work.
- Conformity.
- Adherence to rules.
- Career Goal: Build a respectable career.
- Attitude toward management: Leaders should lead and followers should follow.
Baby Boomers
- Optimistic.
- “We can change the world.”
- Born between 1946 and 1964.
- 46% of population.
- Optimism.
- Team orientation.
- Personal gratification.
- Health and wellness.
- Personal growth.
- Career Goal: Build a stellar career.
- Attitude toward management: Lead by example.
Generation Xers
- Skeptical.
- “Show me the money.”
- Born between 1965 and 1980.
- 29% of population.
- Thinking Globally.
- Balance.
- Techno-literacy.
- Self-reliance.
- Pragmatism.
- Career goal: Build a portable career.
- Attitude toward management: Self-sufficiency not dependency. Follow carefully.
Millennials
- Freedom and Fun.
- “Just do it!”
- Born after 1981.
- 15% of population.
- Optimism.
- Civic duty.
- Confidence.
- Achievement.
- Sociability/Fun.
- Career Goal: Build parallel careers.
- Attitude toward management: Collaboration not hierarchy.
Training participants journey through each generation concentrating on their strengths and looks at ways to collaborate more effectively. The ideal employee of today’s workplace incorporates the loyalty of the traditional, the passion for work of the Boomer, the problem solving attitude of the Gen Xer, and the sheer joy of the Millenial. Diversity is a joy and should be celebrated. For more information on Generation Diversity at Work, contact Chip Baker, LSW at cbaker@bccadd.org. Chip is a Boomer!