Mixing Millennials and Baby Boomers in the Workplace Melting Pot
According to Forbes, the average office environment now houses up to four generations under one roof, including Veterans (born before 1946), Baby Boomers (1946-1964), Generation X (1965-1979), and Millennials (1980-2000). Today, the old dog and the young pup needs to work harmoniously in order to get things done. These totally different generational viewpoints and approaches to work can undoubtedly be beneficial. But, they can also be somewhat challenging to navigate.
There’s one thing to keep in mind as we dig into this, and Office Ninja Emily V. put it just right, “While generational characteristics may be nice to know, in terms of how to handle training and how to get people more involved on a project, it is still a ‘stereotype.’ […] Characteristics will never apply to everyone and you risk alienating good workers by making assumptions.”
We’ve partnered with FirstJob to not only examine what these different generations bring to the table, but also how their differing sets of skills can blend to build a collaborative, well-rounded staff. Let’s jump in and take a look specifically at Baby Boomers and Millennials—two prevalent, yet consistently changing, generations in today’s labor force.
What Baby Boomers Bring to the Office
I think it’s important not to stereotype and learn each person’s thought process. For instance, I am GenX, but I probably have more in common with the Boomers. I am not against or scared of change or technology, but I don’t use a lot of it. I am probably still scarred from working in DOS systems and Word before there was an “undo” button. I’m all about the “human factor”. ” – Melissa S., Virtual Assistant
“I think it’s dangerous to assume the older generation just doesn’t understand,” says Austin Marshburn, Head of Marketing at FirstJob, “In general, most thoughts have been had by someone else before.” Which is exactly why it’s important to remember that their input and expertise are eternally valuable in the modern workplace.
So, what are some general characteristics of Baby Boomers?
Productive, hard-working members of their organizations—according to a study published by Ernst and Young LLP
Very loyal to their company
Willing to put in long hours to get the job done, as this generational chart shows
Skilled team players who like to feel valued in their organization
Capability of breaking large projects down into smaller, more manageable sections and delegating those appropriately.
Communicate in a direct and diplomatic fashion
Prefer to have conversations in person
Loyalty is big among Boomer workers. “Millennials could learn a lot from older employees about what it’s like to stay with a single company. Jumping around is a lot more common today,” explains Braydan Young, FirstJob’s Director of Business Development. In fact, recent research shows that 91% of Millennials anticipate staying at any given job for less than three years.
What Millennials Bring to the Office
As an employee of a large private university; I work with individuals in all demographics. In my work unit, we have a mix of generations that work well together. We are a small staff so we must be accepting of one another. There are some ways millennials have of approaching the work day (i.e. arrival and departure times), tasks (deadlines) and work that are different from mine. However; I don’t think it is simply generational, but also individualistic, as well. Earlier generations were raised differently, and more rigidly (follow and do not deviate from the set standards) than millennials, and therefore are not as fluid in approaching work processes.” -Karen S., Administrative Assistant
Millennials are often talked about as if they’re an entirely new breed of humanity. As a Millennial myself, I can assure you that we still put our pants on one leg at a time (no, there’s no app to do that for us… yet). But Millennials definitely do have some different perspectives and approaches when it comes to work.
What exactly are those different perspectives?
Extremely open-minded and excited about their career opportunities
Exceptionally goal-oriented and great multi-taskers—according to LinkedIn
Skilled collaborators who crave open, honest relationships with managers
Desire to genuinely enjoy their jobs, as well as the people they work with
Incredibly tech-savvy, with an innate understanding of how to leverage technology solutions
Rely heavily on digital means of communication
Believe important messages should be conveyed in person
“Millennials tend to walk in with an open mind,” shares Young, “They want to help solve the problem the company is trying to solve. They also really share a desire to progress in their career quickly”.
Of course, we couldn’t chat about Millennials and not mention technology. “Millennial culture is pretty varied, but there is one constant,” shares Marshburn, “Millennials intuitively understand any sort of communication tool and can translate that into an opportunity for their company to sell, advertise, or market, pretty easily.”
Young Pups and Old Dogs: A Winning Combination
There’s no doubt that combining these differing philosophies and approaches in the workplace can be a bit of a challenge. However, mastering the balance of generational differences in your organization can yield some impressive results. As they say, “Differences make the world go round.” So, finding a way to respect and effectively utilize these different perspectives is key for a successful, well-rounded workplace.
First things first, it’s important to recognize that both generations have a pretty big thing in common: they both want to be shown respect. Baby Boomers crave respect and acknowledgement from younger workers, and Millennials feel they deserve recognition in the workplace—regardless of their age or level of experience.
Beyond that, Millennials and Baby Boomers can complement each other well in a work setting, filling in the gaps to create a diverse and accomplished team. For example, Millennials who are new to the workforce will require a certain amount of direction and supervision. Baby Boomers, who are exceptionally skilled at delegating assignments, can easily fall into this role and provide instructions to their younger counterparts.
The beneficial relationship between Millennials and Boomers is definitely a two-way street. Since the older generation is committed to working long hours, they could learn a thing or two about effective work/life balance from Millennials. The younger generation tends to look for jobs that allow them adequate time to maintain a healthy social life as well as pursue their other passions. Additionally, Boomers can receive some lessons on successfully leveraging technology from younger employees in their office.
Encouraging Office Harmony
So, what can you do to encourage successful mingling and beneficial working relationships between these very different groups of employees?
“There is no substitute for creating an open workspace that fosters open communication among employees and is carried out without prejudice of what one’s job title is,” explains Marshburn, “This creates transparency and allows everyone to feel like they have a stake in the direction of the company. Moreover, it forces both sides to see and come to grips with the other’s viewpoint.”
“A mentorship program between older and younger employees is another effective way to have the two groups work together and openly communicate,” adds Young. Plus, they’ll get the bonus of having a one-on-one office relationship that they can leverage in order to learn new skills and expand their horizons.
Executive Assistant, Cindy B.’s company takes it a step further, “Our company is pretty well split between a more mature workforce and the younger generation. They offer programs and events that appeal to everyone (who wouldn’t want to attend the beer bash?) and try to be inclusive of all groups.”
It’s no secret that different generations can have contrasting views on work. But, it doesn’t need to be a sore spot filled with conflict and disagreement. Foster a work environment that respects and values differences—rather than downplaying or punishing them. For example, identify methods of communication that work for all generations, or set a meeting schedule that fits well with all schedules. Focus on these things, and you’re sure to have a successful, well-rounded, and harmonious office!