HBR Sees Similarities Between Gen Y and Boomers
Any business leader accountable for management of their company’s employment brand, talent pipeline, or employee engagement should read a new article from Harvard Business Review (July-August 2009 issue) titled How Gen Y & Boomers Will Reshape Your Agenda. The subhead states that your oldest and youngest talent cohorts demand many of the same things in a workplace - and have the numbers to get their way. This article offers an interesting perspective on an issue we hear frequently discussed by major HR organizations as they work to create a compelling work experience that allows them to attract and retain the best talent.
In addition to detailing a vision of what the workplace should include to effectively retain Gen Y and Boomer talent the article provides this interesting portrait of each generation.
Portrait of Gen Y
Ambition
84% profess to be very ambitious
Loyalty vs. Quest
45% expect to work for their current employer for their entire career
Multicultural Ease
78% are comfortable working with people from different ethnicities and cultures
Healing the Planet
86% say it’s important that their work make a positive impact on the world
Networking by Nature
48% say having a network of friends at work is very important
Portrait of Baby Boomers
Staying in Harness
42% project they will continue working after age 65
Long Runways
47% see themselves as being in the middle of their careers
From “Me” to “We”
55% are members of external volunteer networks
Yearning for Flexibility
87% say being able to work flexibly is important
Familial Obligations
71% report having elder care responsibilities
What I find so interesting is that I often hear disparaging comments targeted at members of the Gen Y generation that are often leveled by Boomers. Perhaps, with a closer look, the distance between these groups is not that great.
So what do you think? What has your experience been navigating the generational divide in the workplace. Join the discussion. We would love to hear from you.
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July 15th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Gen Y gets a bad rap for being ambitious. It’s not a bad thing but older generations just hate trying to handle us haha. It’s not the old way so they have to come up with new plans and ideas to harness us at work.
For the most part there isn’t much of a gap though. I personally have never had an older co-worker look down on me for being Gen Y or something like that.
July 17th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I would agree that boomers and Y’s share more than one would think. As a boomer, I enjoy what they bring to the table and I think that I may have something to offer them as well.