Understanding Generational Clashes in the Workplace (cont.)

Generation Y is sometimes called the "Trophy Generation", a term that reflects the recent trend of competitive sports, as well as many other aspects of life, where mere participation is frequently enough for a reward. This can become an issue in corporate environments. Generation Y could have too many expectations from the workplace. Studies predict that Generation Y will switch jobs frequently, holding far more than Generation X due to their expectations.

To better understand and deal with this mindset, many organizations are currently developing new training programs to minimize conflicts and miscommunication among the different age groups, in order to get everyone working together. These training programs will help older employees understand the younger employees, while at the same time making the younger employees more comfortable.

Generational clashes in the workplace are nothing new. So why is it so important now to educate the workforce on generational differences? The reason is the extent to which the retirement of the Baby Boomers will leave employers scrambling to recruit and retain the talent they need. The American Society of Training and Development is predicting that 76 million Americans will retire over the next two decades. Only 46 million will be arriving to replace them. Most of those new workers will be from Generation Y.

Having all generations in the workplace working is something every organization should become aware of and plan for, as understanding and accepting pronounced differences that exist today, than ever before, makes good business sense. Educating your employees on the characteristics, preferences and differences of each generation can significantly contribute to the overall efficiency and productivity of workplace culture.

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