1. GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES
IN THE WORKPLACE
CURRENT
U.S.
WORKFORCE
NUMBERS: TRADITIONALIST
1925 - 1945
BABY BOOMER
1946 - 1964
GENERATION X
1965 - 1980
MILLENNIALS
1981 - 2000
GENERATION Z
2001 - 2020
2% 25% 33% 35% 5%
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to today’s workforce – five
generations of workers means five approaches to work. Learn
how to adjust to a multigenerational workforce.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
2. TRADITIONALISTS
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
BORN: 1925 - 1945
DEPENDABLE | STRAIGHTFORWARD | TACTFUL | LOYAL
• The Great Depression, World War II, radio and
movies
Shaped by:
• Respect, recognition, providing long-term value to
the company
Motivated by:
• Personal touch, handwritten notes instead of
email
Communication style:
• Obedience over individualism, age euqals
seniority, advancing through the hierarchy
Worldview:
Provide satisfying work and
opportunities to contribute,
emphasize stability
EMPLOYERS
SHOULD:
3. BABY BOOMERS
BORN: 1946 - 1964
Provide them with special goals
and deadlines; put them in
mentor roles; offer coaching-
style feedback
EMPLOYERS
SHOULD:
OPTIMISTIC | COMPETITIVE | WORKAHOLIC |TEAM-ORIENTED
• Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, Watergate
Shaped by:
• Company loyalty, teamwork, duty
Motivated by:
• Whatever is most efficient, including phone calls
and face to face
Communication style:
• Achievement comes after paying one’s dues;
sacrifice for success
Worldview:
Baby Boomers who plan
to work past age 65
65%
Baby Boomer
reach retirement
age everyday
10,000
4. GENERATION X
BORN: 1965 - 1980
Give them immediate feedback; provide flexible
work arrangements and work-life balance;
extend opportunities for personal development
EMPLOYERS
SHOULD:
FLEXIBLE | IMFORMAL | SKEPTICAL | INDEPENDENT
• The AIDs epidemic, the fall of the Berlin
Wall, the dot-com boom
Shaped by:
• Diversity, work-life balance, their personal-
professional interests rather than the
company’s interests
Motivated by:
• Whatever is most efficient, including
phone calls and face to face
Communication style:
• Favoring diversity; quick to move on if their
employer fails to meet their needs,
resistant to change at work if it affects
their personal lives
Worldview:
Startup founders who are Gen
Xers – the highest percentage
55%
Gen Xers
will
autnumber
Baby
Boomers
By 2028,
5. MILLENNIALS
BORN: 1981 - 2000
Get to know them personally; manage by
results; be flexible on their schedule and work
assignments; provide immediate feedback
EMPLOYERS
SHOULD:
COMPETITIVE | CIVIC – AND OPEN-MINDED | ACHIEVEMENT-ORIENTED
• Columbine, 9/11, the internet
SHAPED BY:
• Responsibility, the quality of their
manager, unique work experiences
MOTIVATED BY:
• IMs, texts, and email
COMMUNICATION STYLE:
• Seeking challenge, growth, and
development; a fun work life and work-life
balance; likely to leave an organization if
they don’t like change
WORLDVIEW:
Percentages of glabal
workforce to be made up of
Millennials by 2025
75%
Millennials ages 25-35
living at home with
their parents
15%
6. GENERATION ZBORN: 2001 - 2020
Offer opportunities to
work on multiple projects
at the same time; provide
work-balance; allow them
to be self-directed and
independent.
EMPLOYERS
SHOULD:
GLOBAL | ENTREPRENEURIAL | PROGRESSIVE | LESS FOCUSED
• Life after 9/11, the Great Recession, access
to technology from a young age
Shaped by:
• Diversity, personalization, individuality,
creativity
Motivated by:
• IMs, texts, social media
Communication style:
• Self-identify as digital device addicts; value
independence and individuality; prefer to
work with Millennial managers, innovative
coworkers, and new technologies
Worldview:
40%
Gen Zers who want to
interact with their boss
daily or several times
each day
84% Gen Zers who expect their employer to provide format training
