The Generation Gap: Creating Workplace Harmony
In an article published on January 23 by the Florida Today, writer Scott Blake scribed about a unique seminar held the previous day. The Melbourne-Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with New England Financial, hosted the seminar titled "Workplace Flexibility: Strategies to Recruit and Retain Top Talent" at the Holiday Inn in Viera.
Featured speaker Patricia Kempthorne (pictured), founder and executive director of the Twiga Foundation, spoke in front of an audience of approximately 150 local business owners and managers. The focus of her presentation discussed the four variant generations of employees that may be present in the workplace.
Kempthorne defines these generations as follows (as written by Blake):
- Traditionalists (age 62 and older): Traditionalists are known for their dedication and sacrifice; a penchant for conformity; respect for rules and authority; putting duty before pleasure; and being disciplined about work.
- Baby boomers (ages 43 to 61): Baby boomers, the largest of the four groups, are known their focus on personal gratification; their live-to-work attitude -- putting in long hours on the job in order to get ahead; having a team-oriented nature; and generally being optimistic.
- Generation X (ages 29 to 42): Generation Xers are known for their self-reliance; being skeptical; having a work-to-live attitude -- seeing work as a means for supporting their lifestyles; being focused on results, rather than the process; and their flexibility and adaptability.
- Generation Y or Millenials (age 28 and younger): Millenials are known for their diversity and independence and being comfortable with technology.
Do you have a generation gap at your workplace? Where do you fall in Kempthorne's list? What about your fellow employees? Would Kempthorne's suggestions prove useful at your workplace? Leave us a comment below or send an e-mail to info@ypBrevard.com.
