It’s very likely that all companies have employees from all generations. The diversity this offers can have both advantages and disadvantages because it’s possible to encounter tension between people of different ages.
How generation gaps affect work productivity
Generation gaps affect office relationships. People from different ages will have different outlook, skills, and priorities. These things can influence how employees interact with each other and, eventually, productivity.
This is why management has to figure out ways on how to manage employees of different age groups. People in the workplace can be classified into 3 groups: Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Gen Y or the Millennials.
Baby boomers are considered more serious with their jobs because they value security. Being the oldest, they want to keep their jobs, so they work very hard. They are competitive and focused.
Generation X people are more adaptable. They want to strike a balance between work and personal life and seek independence. The Generation Y or Millennials, on the other hand, are like Gen X people. They want work-life balance but are more flexible and want to be treated equally in the workplace. It’s very likely that they don’t fear authority.
Because of the differences in priority and qualities, these people can clash at some point.
Baby boomers, for example, are more conservative and focused at work. They may see the younger people’s desire for more flexibility at work as laziness. The latter may think of the older ones as stuck up.
Dealing with each generation to avoid conflict and increase productivity
Experts have suggested several ways on how to deal with employees from different ages, like Businessweek author Mr. Fertik.
Managers need to deal with each type of employee differently because they have different needs. When every one’s satisfied and gets along well with the others, productivity will increase.
Constantly assure Baby Boomers of their value in the company. Because of the increasing number of Generation Y workers, who are more tech-savvy and eager to do new things, older people may feel no longer valued and leave. Companies can benefit from the knowledge these people have acquired, so make sure that they know they have a place in the office.
Younger employees should be treated with respect by management. Mr. Fertik shares, in his article, some ways on how to deal with younger workers.
They people are not necessarily motivated by slight increases in salary but by learning something new. And because they seek more flexibility at work, management can inspire them to become more productive by allowing telecommuting or working from home once in a while.
Meetings should include all age groups to foster better working relationships. Younger employees must be encouraged to consult older colleagues because they have more experience and knowledge. Boomers can learn technical skills like how to become more web and social media savvy from Gen X and Gen Y co-workers.
This give-and-take relationship will benefit everyone, especially the company. When people get along together, they will become more productive and contribute to the company’s success.
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