Understanding the Multi-

Generational Workplace
Luchanna Dix
 Advertising
✓ Flyers to be posted in organizational spaces
○ Job Centers
○ Other non-profit organizations
✓ “Cold” calls to businesses and organizations
✓ Use of social Media
○ Facebook
○ Twitter
○ Linked-In
✓ Networking with other professionals
✓ Through attendance at business conferences.
 Target Population
✓ Human Resource Managers

✓ Department Heads

✓ Supervisors

✓ Team-Leaders

✓ Program Managers
 Barriers
✓ Organizations unwilling to allow training from outside
companies
✓ Managers resistant to adapt to the changing workforce
✓ Managers refusing to let go of stereotypical attitudes
and beliefs
 Learning Objectives
At the end of this training session, attendees will be able
to:

● Name two types of generations currently working in

their immediate organization
● Name at least one characteristic from three of the five
generations discussed
● Understand the benefits of having different viewpoints
in the workplace
 Ground Rules
This is a SAFE space for all attendees

Avoid Stereotypes

Be respectful of the opinions of others

Be willing to open your mind to new understanding

“What Do You Already Know?”
 Video Links
Cam Marston, “A Humorous Look at Generations in Today's
Workplace”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bJPy1B6T1w

How to communicate with Gen “Z”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmNzZf0996o
 How Many are There?
✓ Currently, there can be up to five generations working
side-by-side with different expectations regarding
styles of:
○ Leadership
○ Methods of communication
○ Career development
 Millennials
• Who are they?
✓Individuals 19 – 34 years of age
✓Approximately 45% of the workforce
• What do they value?
✓Technology
✓Diversity
✓Want to be “heard”
✓Work/life balance
 Gen “X”
• Who are they?
✓Individuals 35 – 50 years of age
✓ Approximately 21% of the workforce
• What do they value?
✓Independence
✓Potential to advance to higher levels of leadership
in the workplace
✓Flexibility
 “Baby Boomers”
• Who are they?
✓Individuals 51 – 70 years of age
✓Currently approximately 31% of the workforce
✓Many returning to update education due to economic
factors
• What do they value?
✓One-on-one feedback
✓Process oriented
✓Relationship oriented
 “The Silent Generation”
• Who are they?
✓Individuals 69 – 86 years of age
✓ < 1% of the workforce
✓Can be technologically challenged
• What do they value?
✓Strong Work Ethic
✓One-on-one communications
✓Loyalty
 Generation “Z”
• Who are they?
✓Individuals 6 - 23 years of age
✓ Currently 1 - 2% of workforce
✓Digital Natives/Media Consumers
• What do they value?
✓Instant Gratification
✓Independence
✓Opportunities for Advancement
 Handouts

Meet the Generations

 Multi-Generational Common Values
✓ Feeling respected
✓ Being listened to
✓ Having opportunities for mentoring
✓ Understanding the big picture
✓ Receiving effective communication
✓ Receiving positive feedback and
✓ Experiencing an exchange of ideas.
 Group Activity Instructions
● Class will be divided evenly into groups of two of
different generations.
● One member will be the employee and one member
will be the supervisor.
● They group members will take approximately 5
minutes in each role then switch roles.
● When each has had a turn everyone will return to the
major session to discuss outcomes.
 Group Activity
You have an employee, approximately 40 years old, whom is consistently absent from, or late to
work. This has been going on for several months. At first, the claim was that the absenteeism and
tardiness were due to a neck injury and the effects of a doctor’s prescribed medication. Now, the
employee states that they do not have reliable transportation due to a car accident. Employee lives
approximately one hour’s drive from work. When the employee hired, the employee assured the
hiring committee that getting to work would not be a problem due to having family members in the
immediate area that were available to help. This employee’s behavior is having a negative effect on
the morale of the other employees. You are the group supervisor. How to you deal with this
employee? How do you deal with the poor morale of your other staff?

Don’t forget, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) laws, you may be unable
to share specifics of the employee’s information with other group members.
 Let’s Talk about it
What were the results of your activity?

Millennials

Baby Boomers

Silent Generation

Gen “X”

Gen “Z”
What Did You Learn?
Questions
 References
Budd, L. (2017). 12,000 residents, $1.5B private investment expected at Union Village: Tax sharing,
community authority proposed at Warren County development. Retrieved from
https://www.mydaytondailynews.com/business/real-estate/000-residents-private-investment-
expected-union-village-/gTUNaSY6dbAWjonkDA2Jal/

Davis, L. (2014). A multigenerational workforce brings opportunities, challenges for the Corps. US Army
Corps of Engineers. Retrieved from http://www.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Archive/Story-Article-
View/Article/503286/a-multigenerational-workforce-brings-opportunities-challenges-for-the-corps/

Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce (2017). Dayton Region Economic Outlook. Retrieved from
https://daytonchamber.org/

Half, R. (2017). How Do Generations of Workers Differ? News Article. Retrieved from
http://rh-us-mediaroom.com/2017-01-17-How-Dp-Generations-Of-Workers-Differ
 References (Cont’d)
Keene, D. & Handrick, R. (2015). Loyalty, longevity and leadership: A
multigenerational workforce update. thejuryexpert.com, Volume 27(2).

Lerner, M. (2016). All ages Welcome: Tips for Managing the Multi-Generational Workforce.
ForbesBrandVoice. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/workday/2016/05/05/all-
ages-welcome-tips-for-managing-the-multi-generational-workforce/#36e1be2e251d

Marston, C. (2012). A humorous look at the four generations in today’s

workforce. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bJPy1B6T1w

Moss, D. (2017). 5 Generations + 7 Values = Endless Opportunities. Society for Human Resource
Management (SHRM). Retrieved from https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-
news/conference-today/pages/5-generations-7-values-endless-opportunities.aspx