Learning Objectives
by Gary Batis
• How diversity can add value and benefit to
the workplace by providing commitment to
serve a diverse community.
• Learn that different age groups bring with
them different styles, perspectives, and life
experiences.
• Diversity – “the condition of being, diverse,
“variety” (Webster’s Dictionary).
Steps to Diversity Thinking
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Awareness of Self
Awareness of Others
Acceptance
Appreciation of Differences
Constructively Using the Differences
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Generational Differences in the
Workplace
The Veterans: born between 1922 and 1943.
The Baby Boomers: born between 1943 and
1960.
The Generation Xers: born between 1960
and 1980.
The Generation Nexters: born between 1980
and 2000.
The Veterans
(1922-1943)
Heros:
FDR  Babe Ruth 
Audie Murphy  Winston
Churchill  Eisenhower
Memorabilia:
Kewpie Dolls  Mickey
Mouse  The Lone
Ranger  Flash Gordon
Music of Their
Early Years:
Swing and Big Band
Benny Goodman  Duke
Ellington  Glenn Miller 
Tommy Dorsey  Kate
Smith  Bing Crosby 
Ella Fitzgerald  Frank
Sinatra
Defining Events and Trends:
Great Depression  WWII  The New Deal  Korean War  Rise of Labor
Unions  Polio Vaccine  Golden Age of Radio  The Silver Screen
The Veteran Generational Personality
• They like consistency and uniformity
• They like things on a grand scale
• They are conformers
• They believe in logic, not magic
• They are disciplined
• They are past-oriented
• They believe in law and order
• Their spending style is conservative
The Baby Boomers
(1943-1960)
Heros:
Gandhi  Martin Luther
King  JFK and Jackie 
John Glenn
Memorabilia:
The Ed Sullivan Show 
Poodle Skirts and Pop
Beads  Laugh-In 
Slinkies  TV Dinners 
Hula Hoops
Music of Their
Early Years:
Rock ‘n Roll
Elvis  The Beatles 
Rolling Stones  Grateful
Dead  Beach Boys  Jimi
Hendrix  Bob Dylan  The
Supremes  The
Temptations
Defining Events and Trends:
Vietnam War  Civil Rights Movement  Cold War  Women’s Liberation 
The Space Race  Television  Suburbia  Assassinations
The Boomer Generational Personality
• They believe in growth and expansion
• They think of themselves as stars of the show
• They tend to be optimistic
• They learned about teamwork at school and home
• They have pursued personal gratification
• They have searched their souls – repeatedly
• They have always been cool
The Xers
(1960-1980)
Music of Their
Early Years:
Heros:
(None)
Memorabilia:
The Brady Bunch  Pet
Rocks  ET  Cabbage
Patch Dolls  Platform
Shoes  Star Wars
Disco, Rap & Reggae
Elton John  Bruce
Springstein  Tina Turner
 Bon Jovi  Michael
Jackson  U2  Prince
Defining Events and Trends:
Watergate  AIDS  MTV  Latchkey Kids  Computers  Fall of Berlin Wall
 Glastnost/Perestroika  Challenger Disaster
The Generation X Generational Personality
• They are self-reliant
• They are seeking a sense of family
• They want balance
• They like informality
• Their approach to authority is casual
• They are skeptical
• They are attracted to the edge
• They are technologically savvy
The Nexters/Generation Y
(1980-2000)
Heros:
Michael Jordan  Princess
Diana  Mia Hamm  Bill
Gates  Tiger Woods
Memorabilia:
Barney  Beanie Babies 
The X Games  Pogs 
Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles  Virtual Pets
Music of Their
Early Years
Alternative Rap, SKA
& Remix
Jewel  Puff Daddy  Alanis
Morrisette  Toni Braxton 
Savage Garden  Garth
Brooks  Backstreet Boys 
Spice Girls
Defining Events and Trends:
Oklahoma City Bombing  McGwire and Sosa  It Takes a Village 
Schoolyard Violence  Girls Movement
The Nexter/Generation Y Generational Personality
Generation Y is still in process of developing a
Generational Personality, but so far seems to hold the
following Core Values upon which the personality will
be based:
• Optimism
•Sociability
• Civic Duty
•Morality
• Confidence
•Street Smarts
• Achievement
•Diversity
Diversity Standards
(Do not mean a lack of standards)
• Every one in the organization has the right
to establish certain behavioral standards.
• Behavioral standards must be tied to the
community and organization’s objectives.
Tips on Dealing with Diversity Actions
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Avoid stereotyping
Improve communication
Understand group interaction
Manage culture clash
Find common ground