In an article titled "Uncommon Threads: Mending the Generation Gap at Work," Anderson University professor Brad Sago writes:
"Having difficulty understanding the perspective, work habits, and communication styles of those in another age group is common in the workplace. The challenge may come from interactions with your boss, an employee, co-worker, client, or even a vendor. As with other diversity issues, such as age, gender, ethnicity, and race, examining and understanding generations has become an increasingly important part of maximizing organizational effectiveness."
Read the full article, found at: http://www.asaecenter.org/PublicationsResources/articledetail.cfm?ItemNumber=13100
Do you agree or disagree with the article's major points? What do you see as the biggest differences between your generation and previous generations? How do those differences create challenges in today's workplace?
I guess I agree with a lot of what is said in the article but I almost think with the state of the economy it isn't so much the generational difference in the workplace that is the issue. To me, the situation we now see is a desperation to try and hold onto the audience and so journalistic organizations are pretty much doing any and everything they can to maintain a profitable business. I think that this result is most likely going to be generated from younger, not youngest, but younger people as they are more familiar with the internet, blogging, podcasts, tabliod type and shorter writing and video segments.
ReplyDeleteThat isn't to say that no older people will be kept around but there just aren't enough jobs for everyone (obviously) and so I believe that the majority will actually fall somewhere in the middle, not old and out-dated but not newbies with no experience.
I suppose what I am trying to say is that though this may have been more of a problem if we weren't in such a bad job market, I kind of see this becoming less of a problem because most of the people who will be kept on or hired on for jobs will be the ones who know how to do all these things and even better if they know how to do all these things and have experience which narrows the opportunity for such a wide generational gap. Which I guess is what we have been talking about all semester. =)
But to address the issue, I think the generational gap exists in every kind of job. It will present problems, but I don't see these as a "big" or "pressing" issue. The bottom line will always be that a business is a business which is meant to make money and the "big wigs" at the top of the food chain will always want the people who make them the most money, regardless of age. So get really good at what you want to do and the old people who don't know how to do this will be downsized.
I think the biggest difference I see among generations is the way in which people interact . My boss, for example, is in her 30's, and I get along with her just fine. (This may also be because all of my siblings are much older than me so I am used to interacting with people 10-20 years my senior.) She expects employees to pick up on directions quickly, and can sometimes be short in her emails, phone calls, and even face to face interactions. This has never bothered me much, but I have noticed that older employees have found it offensive at times.
ReplyDeleteI think that our generation and people in their 30's and 40's are used to a much faster pace at work, and much quicker and less personal interactions with others. For older employees, I think this comes off as impatient and even "bitchy", so I could see how this causes problems in the workplace.
As far as technology goes, I am not comfortable with a lot of computer skills, but I do think that using computers, cell phones, etc. comes more naturally to me since it is what I've grown up with. I think our generation takes for granted that we grew up working on computers, whereas this is all new territory for older generations.
I think as every generation gets older, they try to hold on to the moments that defined their generation. This was never important to me when I was a child, but as I grew up, I noticed that I bonded with others who experienced the same things (watched the same shows, wore the same clothes, etc.) as I did growing up.
ReplyDeleteI think generational differences can cause problems in the workplace because there is this assumption that younger people know absolutely everything about technology.
I suppose there is also animosity when someone who has been working at a company for years is booted out for someone younger and cheaper. Gotta love Corporate America.
The generational issues that occur in most workplaces seem to be the lack of appreciation of where each particular person is at in their personal life.
ReplyDeleteIf the 23-year-old shift manager at my Starbucks gets angry at the 56-year-old barista who only works the front register because she is not fast at her job. He's probably going to make a comment about how she's probably always been slow and isn't competent at doing her job. The problem here is the shift isn't recognizing that the barista has raised a daughter, buried a husband and was an office manager for 30 years. At 56, she's choosing to take time in her work.
By recognizing the rolls we have played in our lives before we get to work will allow for respect amongst young managers and older employees.
I think there are definitely problematic generational issues in today's society. My generation has grown up in a world where technology is constantly advancing. There are always new devices and programs to learn, and different methods to learn them. In my experience many older people have a stubborn mindset and are perfectly content with their old ways. Unfortunately this creates tension, especially in a work place. An older person I once worked with at restaurant put it this way, that older people don't rush at anything because, really what do they have to rush for? Many of them have already lived the majority of their lives and naturally they want to take what they have left and make the best of their remaining time. It's exhausting for anybody to have to constantly keep up with today's advances in technology, if you add an older person to the mix it makes it's got to be more difficult. I think younger people need to be more sensitive to older people.
ReplyDeleteI understand that there are generational issues in today's, tomorrow's and yesterday's society. But what I don't understand is the difference in applying technology to move forward.
ReplyDeleteSome people in different generations understand technology and move forward with it. Others don't. Possibly because their job, interest and understanding doesn't persuade them to hold value to the 'digital age'.. But how do you explain how Rod Blagojevich, the ex-governor of Illinois, the 5th largest state, did his job without ever learning how to turn a computer on? Would you call this a major generation gap or would you agree with Sharon Osbourne and call him crazy?
Oh, it's probably just me -but honestly, I don't think the article really "SAID" anything. From the title, I expected to be presented with sound arguments and examples of 'generation' issues in the workplace- this didn't happen.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's my age (sarcasm intended) but I have not found 'generation' issues to be the source of workplace issues and tensions. I've met 'older' people who are complete technological junkies and 'younger' people who are technological failures. I can say the same thing about the 'speed' of working as well.
To me, this is not a generation issue -it's merely a clash of personalities and character traits - something you find in any workplace regardless of age ranges.
I think everyone in this class can recognize that people are different and value different things. Even if you eliminate those of us in the class that are beyond the twenty something era, and take a poll you'll find the same marked differences in values. Some people like to go fast, some people like to go slow; some people embrace their inner geeks and others shutter at the very idea.
It's not about understanding how to work with different generations -it's about learning how to work with people.
I think that this article really is a lot about nothing. Everything the writer talks about is so generalized and broad. It's common sense. Every generation is going to have it's own set of differences and how they view the world. Anyone who doesn't know that is going to have quite some trouble when they graduate.
ReplyDeleteI see the biggest difference these days is that older generations really expect too much from youth. While it is proper to show respect to your elders, it gets to a point where some older people almost look down on the younger generations, which is hypocritical, because that is being disrespectful in itself.
I cant tell you how many times I've gone to cover a game for the Herald-Tribune and have been treated differently bc of my age/appearance... if I just looked older but still had the exact same job, I would've been treated in a completely different manner..
I think that the most poignant difference between our generation, Generation Y and previous generations in the work force was mentioned in the article; that former generations "lived to work," while our generation will "work to live." This is due to a culture shift that allows younger generations unprecedented amounts of free-time and new ways to pay for it(i.e. credit cards and multiple mortgages). Travel is more convenient and accessible than it has ever been and shifts in technology have freed up time by streamlining processes that were once more drawn out.
ReplyDeleteI think that this notion represents a lot of conflict that arises between generations. It shapes the perceptions of "work ethic" one generation has for the other.
In the workplace and society as a whole, I feel as though younger generations do not think they have anything to learn from older generations. This not only makes former generations feel unappreciated, but also resentful. Many Generation Xers and Baby Boomers work really hard to stay on top of the technology we take for granted. Younger generations need to realize that there is still plenty to learn from former generations.
This is a hilarious clip of comedian Louis C.K. on Conan O'Brien talking about generational differences:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk
Some St. Pete Times articles I found on the subject:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/workinglife/article1081452.ece
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/17/Working/A_new_generation_of_w.shtml
The generation gap is an interesting issue. I agree with most of the points in the article. The key in the work place is for people to adapt to how the people around them work. I agree with Zach about the older generations living to work and the younger generations working to live. There is animosity between the generations about the work ethics of the two groups. The article is right new training and new skills is definitely our ace in the hole which will help us for years. The article makes some good points but it is also common sense, it is stuff we are dealing in the workforce and most other phases of our lives.
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest "strife" in the workplace is between people that just don't simple get along, not necessarily from a "generation gap". I've worked with much older and younger people before, and found in my own experience that people of different ages work well together, because you have different perspectives and knowledge coming together to get the job done. I have found that older generations usually appreciate younger perspectives, and appreciate them!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think people just click or they don't. Regardless of age or the generation, I have people in my life that I get along with excellently from every group. When age is thrown out the window and forgotten about, people get along or they don't because of their beliefs. And people of the same age can vary greatly in their beliefs to begin with. Yes, there will be differences, but I think it has less to do with generation differences than clashing personalities.
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