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Companies both large and small, and specifically the managers, supervisors and
human resources departments who deal with the challenges of getting the most out of
their employees, are faced with the complex issue of keeping their employees motivated.
One of the things that has troubled many a manager is the generational divide; the
ingrained traits and core values associated with differing generations. In this paper, we
will discuss the four generations currently in the workplace, some general traits of each
generation, what makes them different, and how this diversity of perspective and
experience can, once recognized, be blended together to make a more synergistic
working environment and a more productive work force.
In today’s society, there are four generations collaborating, and sometimes
conflicting, in the workplace. 1 Generational conflict often results from a clash of
perspectives. 2 What are the different generations currently employed?
The World War II generation, sometimes called the Silent Generation or the
Veteran Generation (Veterans will be used in this paper), were born between 1925 and
1940, and they currently represent 5% of today’s workforce. 3 They are currently age 63
to 78, and many have retired and left the workplace.
The Baby Boomers were born between 1941 and 1960. This large generation
makes up about 45% of the workforce. 4 They are currently between ages 43 and 62.
Generation X makes up about 40% of the workforce today. 5 This group was born
between 1961 and 1981. They range in age from 22 to 42.
Generation Y, also known as the Millenial generation or Nexters (Nexters will be
used hereafter), started in 1982 and continues to the present year.6 This group makes up
about 10% of the current workforce, and are age 21 to children.
Webster’s dictionary defines a generation as “a group of individuals born about
the same time.7” Individuals within a generation tend to share common perceptions,
attitudes and perspectives.8 Each generation has unique characteristics that come as a
result of defining life events and trends that they experienced growing up.9 As a result,
the different generations will not have the same work ethic or share similar views on
management or even the best way of getting a job done.
There are four generational phases in a person’s life.10
• Youth (0-21): a time of learning and acquiring values.
• Rising Adulthood (22-43): working, family and testing values.
• Midlife (44-65): parenting, teaching and using values.
• Elderhood (66-87): stewardship and mentoring, passing on values.
The world events that surround these times in a person’s life drastically affect the values
