People try to put us d-down(Talkin'' ''bout my generation)
Just because we get around (Talkin'' ''bout my generation)
Things they do look awful cc-cold (Talkin'' ''bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (Talkin'' ''bout my generation)
There is something timeless about younger generations feeling put down and feeling that the things that older generations do "look awful cold." Then, before we know it, we are part of that older generation and the younger folks are saying the same about us. Life has a way of sneakin´ up on you that way.
GENERATIONS AT WORK
The workplace has always been comprised of employees from a number of different generations and today´s workplace, in that respect, is no different. There are, however, some differences in the generational mix of today´s workforce. For example, many people are working longer, (i.e., past the age of 65), either because they want to or because they have to in order to meet their financial needs. The end result is that older employees are still active in the workplace. Another difference that I have noticed is that the "pecking order" is different today. The natural order of the older person supervising the younger person no longer necessarily holds true. A generation or so ago it was the exception when one´s boss was younger than the older employee.
FIRST, A CAVEAT
When one begins to identify and characterize the specific behaviors of members of a certain group, and then makes generalizations about the entire group based on the behaviors of a few, stereotyping takes place. Let me be clear up front - the behaviors. I´ve noted in this article do not pertain to every member of any particular generation - far from it. To think otherwise is both dangerous and small minded.
THE GENERATIONS DEFINEDI don´t know who determines the starting and ending points of generations or how it is decided that it´s time to end one and start a new one. I thought that a generation was defined as a period of about twenty years or so. A little bit of research reveals that there is apparently no universal agreement on the starting and ending points of generations or to their length. For the purpose of this article I settled on the following: Pre-World War II - those born prior to 1946; Baby Boomers - those born between 1946 and 1964; Generation X - those born between 1965 and 1977; Generation Y - those born between 1978 and 1997; Millennia''s - those born after 1997.
In terms of sheer number of people, the Baby Boomers are generally acknowledged as the largest generation, numbering about 77 million people. Some will counter that by saying Generation Y is larger with about 80 million people but again it depends on the years used to define it. During 2004 the youngest Baby Boomers will turn 40, Generation X´ers will be firmly entrenched in the workforce as they will be between the ages of 27 and 39, and the Y´ers will also be quite evident as the older members of this generation will be in their mid-20´s. The youngest Y´ers, however, are still in elementary school and not an immediate threat to take the jobs of Boomers.
EFFECTS ON THE WORKPLACE
BOOMERS - Fighting It, But Aging Nevertheless
Although many will fight it to the end, the Baby Boomers are getting older. By the end of the year 2004, all Boomers will be part of at least one protected class - age. If the downsizing trend continues the number of age discrimination charges could increase. More importantly, some boomers will begin to leave the workforce by their own decision and will take a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience with them. This could be particularly detrimental to organizations who have not adequately prepared for this eventuality through career development and succession planning, especially at the senior level. Additionally, retirement and 401(k) plans come much more into focus as "someday" looms closer and closer. Moreover, many boomers are focused on the long term care needs of their aging parents. Boomers are sometimes referred to as the "sandwich generation" because many have the responsibility of taking care of their parents in addition to their own children. This is a tremendous responsibility, which can take a toll on those employees (and, consequently, their organizations) when they are faced with that situation.
BOOMERS - Unfulfilled Ambition
Perhaps it is true of every generation, but many Boomers feel as though their generation has yet to accomplish the lofty goals it set for itself (e.g. to bring about world peace, to end hunger, etc.). Sadly, many aspects of our world are in worse shape than when Boomers were young and idealistic. Moreover, many in this generation with whom I´ve spoken feel that they, on an individual level, have failed to fulfill their promise. Some are in jobs (albeit well-paying jobs) in which they no longer feel challenged, as if they are just marking time. Some who have worked for the same organization for 20-30 years (many would consider these the "lucky ones") sadly have little or no trust in their organization vis-à-vis their own personal welfare.
GENERATION X -Loyalty? Yeah, right.
One comment I hear from many leaders in organization is that Generation X (and Y) employees simply do not seem to have loyalty to their employer. Loyalty is a quaint notion, at best, to many in this generation and, frankly, who can blame them? The social contract that seemed to exist between organizations and their employees was broken many years ago when downsizing, rightsizing, and reengineering became entrenched in the lexicon of business. Many in this generation have seen one or both parents lose their jobs with no warning after years of loyal service to an employer. Gen X´ers aren´t stupid - they don´t naively believe that it wouldn´t happen to them, they believe it can and will. If better opportunities present themselves why shouldn´t they pursue them? One interesting footnote with respect to loyalty is this; Generation X´ers are more likely to be loyal to their immediate supervisor than to the organization as a whole. This has numerous implications for organizations. Supervisors who can teach, coach, and inspire their employees are more likely to retain them.
GENERATIONS X AND Y - Self-esteem, Inclusion & Competition
Many Boomers have raised their children with an emphasis on building and maintaining a high level of self-esteem in the child. For example, nowadays nearly every participant in every sports league receives a trophy at the end of the season. Not just the players on the first-place team but on every team. The goal is to make every child feel like a "winner." This not only de-values the earning of a trophy ("just throw it in the closet with all of the other trophies"), it is an impractical representation of the "real world." Moreover, many members of Gen X and Gen Y have had an unprecedented voice in making family decisions - be it the purchase of an appliance or deciding where to go on summer vacation. While this inclusion seems like a good idea at the time (see self-esteem above), some X´ers and Y´ers may have to adjust to the concept that decisions will be made in the workplace without the benefit of their input. In a twist of irony, however, X´ers and Y´ers have and will experience the stress of real competition. Speak with just about any high school student today and they will tell you about the unprecedented amount of competition there is for them to get accepted into a "good college." The percentage of high school graduates going on to college has increased from about 45% of all graduates in the early 70´s to about 85% today. That translates to about twice the number of applicants for roughly the same number of seats. This trend is expected to continue through the high school graduating class of 2011.
SUMMARY
I could go on and on about the differences in the generations but I don´t have the time or the space. The bottom line is that no generation gets off easy; there are just different stresses and obstacles to overcome. My wish is that the younger generation could recognize and respect the wisdom of their elders. And that the older generation could remember that they were once young, with all that youth entails good and bad - after all, the phrase, "I hope I die before I get old." doesn´t seem quite so cool anymore.