Managing Relationships
As Human Resources professionals, most of us are aware of the changing demographics
of the workforce in the United States. We are continuously reminded of the increase in
number of the older persons in the workforce and the smaller number of younger
individuals in the workforce.
The graph on the left provides a statistical view of the changing demographics in the United States. The graph on the right provides a
statistical view of the demographics in Bexar County.
USA
Millenials
Under 25
12%
Bexar County
The Veterans
Ages 61+
10%
The Veterans
Ages 61+
13%
Millenials
Under 25
33%
Baby Boomers
Ages 41 - 60
28%
Generation X
Ages 25 - 40
34%
Baby Boomers
Ages 41 - 60
44%
Generation X
Ages 25 - 40
26%
A few facts relating to the changing workforce are:



By 2010 the U.S. will have 10 million more jobs than workers
Individuals over the age of 55 are the fastest growing segment of the domestic
workforce
11% fewer people were born between 1966-85 than between 1945-65
Most organizations can expect a workforce consisting of older employees and a group of
younger employees with different preferences and work styles trying to work together
and managers accommodating both groups. To get workers of different generations to
work together, managers must first understand each group’s characteristics and
preferences and use leadership styles appropriate for each individual.
Workplace Traits Most Attributed to Generations
Veterans (a.k.a. Traditionalists, WWI Generation, born before 1945)
• Plan to stay with the organization over the long term.
• Respectful of organizational hierarchy.
• Like structure.
• Accepting of authority figures in the workplace.
• Give maximum effort.
Baby Boomers (born 1945-1964)
• Give maximum effort.
• Accepting of authority figures in the workplace.
• Results driven.
• Plan to stay with the organization over the long term.
• Retain what they learn.
Generation X (born 1965-1980)
• Technologically savvy.
• Like informality.
• Learn quickly.
• Seek work/life balance.
• Embrace diversity.
Nexters (a.k.a. Generation Y, born after 1980)
• Technologically savvy.
• Like informality.
• Embrace diversity.
• Learn quickly.
• Need supervision.
Source: SHRM Generational Differences Survey Report, 2004.
Books, articles, websites and other resources are available to assist individuals who work
with and who manage persons from various generations. This list should help provide
awareness of the issues in multigenerational workplaces as well as provide insight and
ideas regarding managing multigenerational employee groups.
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Articles
Beware of the Boomer Brain Drain!, Paul Harris, ASTD,
http://store.astd.org/product_search.asp?keyword=Paul+Harris, $10 charge for nonmembers
Boomer vs. Echo Boomer: The Work War, ASTD,
http://store.astd.org/product_search.asp?keyword=Paul+Harris, $10 charge for nonmembers
Generational Differences at Work, Melissa Dittmann, APA Online,
http://www.apa.org/monitor/jun05/generational.html
Generational Differences, SHRM Case Study,
http://www.shrm.org/hrresources/casestudies_published/EmployeeRelations.asp#TopOfP
age
Leadership Styles: Generational Differences, SHRM Website,
http://www.shrm.org/research/briefly_published/
Management Skills Differ Between Generations, SHRM Report,
http://www.shrm.org/diversity/library_published/nonIC/CMS_020430.asp
Managing the Multigenerational Workforce: Balancing Traditionals, Boomers, Xs
and Ys, BNA Report,
http://hrlibrary.bna.com/hrlw/display/doctype_doc_display.adp?fedfid=3164511&vname
=hrbtm&wsn=24&searchid=1736717&doctypeid=3
Mixing and Managing Four Generations of Employees, Greg Hammill, FDU
Magazine, http://www.fdu.edu/newspubs/magazine/05ws/generations.htm
‘Personal Growth’ vs. Higher Pay: The Generational Differences, Stephen Miller,
SHRM,
http://www.shrm.org/rewards/library_published/benefits/nonIC/CMS_017943.asp
Recruiting Generation Y: Ready or Not, Here They Come,
http://www.nasrecruitment.com/TalentTips/NASinsights/GenerationY.pdf
The Net Generation Goes to Work, Don Tapscott and Robert Barnard, Optimize
Magazine,
http://www.optimizemag.com/article/showArticle.jhtml?printableArticle=true&articleID
=192300639&q...
The X Factor: Managing Generation X, DBM Website,
http://dbm.com/content.aspx?main=30&item=32
Workplace Generation Gap: Understand Differences Among Colleagues, Mayo Clinic,
http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/working-life/WL00045/METHOD-print
Books
Bridging the Generation Gap: How to Get Radio Babies, Boomers, Gen Xers, and Gen
Yers to Work Together and Achieve More, Linda Gravett, Robin Throckmorton, Robin
Throckmorton, Career Press, Incorporated, 2007.
I Lost My Blackberry Down the Toilet: And Other Generational Challenges in the
Workplace, Steven M. Friedman, iUniverse, Incorporated, 2006.
Millennials and the Pop Culture, Neil Howe and William Strauss with Pete Markiewicz,
Life Course Associates, 2006.
Retiring the Generation Gap: How Employees Young and Old Can Find Common
Ground, Jennifer Deal, Wiley, John & sons, Incorporated, 2006.
The Kids Are All Right: How the Gamer Generation Is Changing the Workplace, John
C. Beck, Mitchell Wade, Harvard Business School Publishing, 2006.
On Cloud Nine: Weathering the Challenge of Many Generations in the Work Place,
Robert W. Wendover, Terrence L. Gargiulo, Eldon Dedini, AMACOM, 2005.
Managing Differently – Getting 100 Percent from 100 Percent of Your People 100
Percent of the Time, James O. Rodgers, Oakhill Press, 2004.
Coaching Across Cultures: New Tools for Leveraging National, Corporate, and
Professional Differences, Philippe Rosinski, Nicholas Brealey pub; 2003.
Connecting Generations: The Sourcebook for a New Workplace, Claire Raines, Crisp
Publications, 2003.
Diverse Teams at Work: Capitalizing on the Power of Diversity, Lee Gardenswartz and
Anita Rowe, SHRM, 2002.
Only Wet Babies Like Change, Mary-Frances Winters, The Winters Group, Incorporated,
2002.
When Generations Collide: Who they Are, Why They Clash, How to Solve the
Generational Puzzle at Work, Lynne C. Lancaster and David Stillman, Harper Business,
2002.
Generations at Work – Managing the Clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers, and Nexters in
Your Workplace, Ron Zemke, Claire Raines and Bob Filipczak, Amacom, 2000.
Managing Generation X: How to Bring Out the Best in Young Talent, Bruce Tulgan,
W.W. Norton & Company, 2000.
The Xers & The Boomers: From Adversaries to Allies, Claire Raines and Jim Hunt,
Crisp Publications, 2000.
Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation, Don Tapscott, McGraw-Hill
Trade, 1999.
Beyond Generation X: A Practical Guide for Managers, Claire Raines, Thompson Crisp
Learning, 1997.
Motivating the “What’s in it for Me?” Workforce, Marston Communications
Videos
Generations in the Workplace, Claire Raines and Jim Hunt,
http://www.generationsatwork.com/
Mixing Four Generations in the Workplace, Cam Marston, http://marstoncomm.com/
Showdown at Generation Gap, Claire Raines and Bradley Richardson,
http://www.generationsatwork.com/
The X Factor: Managing & Motivating Generation X, Claire Raines,
http://www.generationsatwork.com/
Audio
Generation X at Work, Claire Raines, http://www.generationsatwork.com/
Managing Four Generations in the Workplace, http://marstoncomm.com/
Miscellaneous
Laminated Card/Generational Desk Reference ($4.00), order from Claire Raines
Associates, DTH Magic @aol.com
Connecting Generations board game, order from http://www.generationsatwork.com/
Web Sites
AARP—www.aarp.org
Diversity Central—http://www.diversityhotwire.com/
Claire Raines Associates, www.generationsatwork.com
DiversityInc—http://www.business-marketing.com/store/diversity.html
Griggs Productions—http://www.griggs.com/videos/md.shtml
Marston Communications—http://marstoncomm.com/
Society for Human Resource Management—www.shrm.org
Texas State Data Center and Office of the State Demographer—
http://txsdc.utsa.edu/tpepp/txpopest.php
Training ABC—
http://www.trainingabc.com/xcart/home.php?cat=255&sort=title&sort_direction=0&page
=1
University of Texas at San Antonio, Dr. Steve Murdock—
http://txsdc.utsa.edu/presentations/
Workforce Development Group—
http://www.workforcedevelopmentgroup.com/video_list.html
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