CLU GENERATIONS AT WORKColleen McCarthy, Human ResourcesMay 16, 2012

“I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint.”

Hesiod, the father of Greek didactic poetry, 700bc

TALKIN’ ‘BOUT MY GENERATION

TRADITIONA

L

• Number of people in any given age group• Impact that group has on the future• Generally grouped in 20 year brackets

SOCIOLOGIC

AL

• Conditions that are the forces at work as each generation comes of age• Shared attitudes• Common history• Formative events• Similar tastes

TALKIN’ ‘BOUT MY GENERATION, con’t.

• Shape attitudes, values and behavior

COMMON EXPERIENCES

• Help us recognize the different perspectives and priorities

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

• In the workplace, classroom and social settingsIMPLICATIONS

ACTIVITY

Pair up with someone from

a different generation

Think back to the 7th Grade (you were 12)

Tell your partner:

ACTIVITY, con’t.

Who were your heroes or role models and

why?

Who was President and what was his

legacy to you?

What was the latest

technological trend and how did you use it?

What TV or Radio shows were popular?

CURRENT WORK FORCE IN THE US

1925 to 1945

Silent

7%

1946 to 1964

Boomers

38%

1965 to 1985

Gen X

30%

1986 to 2001

Gen Y

25%

CURRENT WORK FORCE AT CLU WITHOUT ADJUNCT: 474

1925 to 1945

Silent

8 %

1946 to 1964

Boomers

51.5 %

1965 to 1985

Gen X

36.5 %

1986 to 2001

Gen Y

4 %

CURRENT WORK FORCE AT CLU WITH ADJUNCT: 893

1925 to 1945

Silent

13 %

1946 to 1964

Boomers

52 %

1965 to 1985

Gen X

32 %

1986 to 2001

Gen Y

3 %

WHAT’S COMING?

• Even before the recent economic downturn, workers planned to work well into their 70’s

• Show loyalty/reap rewards by staying with the organization indefinitely

Silent’s

1925 - 1945

• 45 million boomers were projected to retire by 2017 – now need to work another 9 years to replace recent losses

• According to projections by UC Davis, starting in 2005, the number of boomers retiring will outstrip available replacement workers

Boomers & Jones

1946 – 1964

• Not enough people in Gen X to replace Silent’s and Boomers as they retire

• Balance life, Balance work, Balance play

Gen X

1965 - 1985

GENERATIONAL CLASH

• Older/seasoned employees received the perks and toys

• People moved up in rank if they paid their dues

HISTORICALLY

• Gen X sees there are limited traditional jobs, develops an idea, starts an e-business

• Hires Boomers to work at non-management level

NOW

• An organizational culture that has been shaped by the values, standards, and policies may not be compatible with the next generation that leads it

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THE TEAM?

Trust is difficult to

earnValues Differ

Perceptions of

competence vary

Work rewards are different

for each generation

The most common intergenerational problems concern managing and motivating others

WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO THE EMPLOYEE?

Innovative problem-solving

requires collaboration

Collaboration is built on trust

Trust is built on relationships

Relationships are built by

getting to know others

Relationships cross

Generations

“…You know, can we all get along…?”

Rodney King

CAN WE GET ALONG?

Stereotypes, Perceptions and Absolutes• 20% of all employees state that co-workers from

different generations do not respect them

Reality, Attitudes and Expectations• 51% of all employees of different generations

work effectively together• Conflict areas are work ethics, managing change,

organizational hierarchy

WHAT ISN’T WORKING?

GENERATIONAL CONFLICT COMES FROM

Acceptable work hours

or work conditions

Perception of

disrespect and

dismissive

Issues related to

Technology

Resentment between

generations

WHAT IS WORKING?

Open and Frequent

Communication

Difference Deployment

ACORN IMPERATIVES

• Accommodate Employee DifferencesA• Create Workplace ChoicesC• Operate from a Sophisticated Management

StyleO• Respect Competence and InitiativeR• Nourish RetentionN

“If you want happiness for a lifetime - help the next generation.”

Chinese Proverb

BRIDGING THE GAP

Which generations

are represented

in your department?

What are the implications

for our approach to

problem solving?

How must we adapt in order to be generation friendly?

BRIDGING THE GAP, con’t.

C• Clarify roles for every job in every department

C• Create an environment that is inclusive and open, fun,

supportive, and allows for mentoring across generations

C• Communicate so that goals and directions are

understandable to all generations in the workplace

NEXT STEPS

Value the differences

Focus on

Results

Be Open

2017 WORKPLACE

Gen X will be in charge40% of workplace will

be independent contractors

8% Growth of women leaders in the

workplace

233% increase in the number of “green” jobs

Lattice Careers instead of Ladder Careers

Burden of benefits will be shifted more towards

the employee

Workforce will be more fluid and more virtual• 28% increase in

telecommuting full or part time

“WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?”

People need to develop skills now for jobs they

want to have later

On TV, scenery changes every 20

seconds

Future resources will be in high demand

• What will the needs be?• What will YOU want to do?

• Impact on communication and training?

• There are currently 76 Million Gen Y

• 25% of California Children are living in poverty

BIBLIOGRAPHYLancaster, Lynne and Stillman, David; “When Generations Collide”: Collins Business, 2002

Zemke, Ron, Claire Raines, and Bob Filipczak; “Generations at Work”; American Management Association, 2000

Rowe, Kim A; “Training Across Generations”; ASTD Press

Schramm, Jennifer; Age Groups Mostly in Accord; HR Magazine; September 2004; Volume 49 ,No. 9, Society for Human Resources Management

Gaylor, Dennis; Generational Differences; http://www.reachtheu.com; April, 2002

Gandel, Stephen; Why Boomers Can’t Quit; Time Magazine, May 25, 2009

Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org; Directed to other generational materials

Oliver, Lynne; Food Timeline: Popular 20th Century Foods; http://foodtimeline.org

Food Timeline; http://www.foodtimeline.org/

The Hungry Mind Review’s 100 Best 20th Century Books; sttp://www.bookspot.com

Kristy, Joe: The Changing Workforce