Part Three of a three-part series on multiple generations in the workplace.
This spring, we conducted an online survey about multiple generations in the workplace and heard from close to 100 professionals about some of the conflicts and benefits of having four (sometimes five!) generations at work.
In this blog, we share some insights on how each generation sees itself – traits they’re proud of, traits they find disappointing – and what each generation sees as unfair perceptions of their group.
Our survey included these questions:
- Fill in the blanks: I’m PROUD that my generation is known for _____________, but DISAPPOINTED that it is also known for _____________.
- Fill in the blank: I’ve noticed that my generation is UNFAIRLY STEREOTYPED as ______________.
- Which of the following traits best DESCRIBE professionals in your generation?
(participants were asked to select 3 traits from among a list of 15)
We received responses from five generations, with (of course) most professionals falling into one of the middle three generations. Here’s what survey participants had to say!
Traditionalists
Born between 1925 and 1945, Traditionalists are age 73 to 93 years old today. Surprisingly, there are still a number of Traditionalists in the workplace!
Traditionalists came of age during WWII, the New Deal or the Korean War. Most lived through the Great Depression, experiencing hard times followed by post-war prosperity. Most grew up listening to radio at home. They were among the first to have TVs in their homes.
Traditionalists are known to be: Patient, Loyal and Task-Oriented.
According to Traditionalist survey respondents…
Traditionalists are PROUD that their generation is known for: traditions.
But DISAPPOINTED that their generation is known for: being stuck on traditions.
They believe their generation is UNFAIRLY STEREOTYPED as: old and unwilling to listen.
Traditionalists most often DESCRIBE THEMSELVES as: Calm in a Crisis, Loyal and having a Strong Work Ethic.
Baby Boomers
Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are now 54 to 72 years old. Many are still working. In fact Boomers are working longer than previous generations – and longer than most predicted.
Baby Boomers led the Civil Rights movement and the sexual revolution. They protested the Vietnam War. They also experienced the highest divorce rate ever, in part because they expected – and believed they could shape – the American Dream. They grew up at the same time that portable radios and color TV emerged.
Baby Boomers are: Team-oriented, Calm in a Crisis and known for a Strong Work Ethic.
Baby Boomer survey respondents tell us…
They are PROUD that their generation is known for:
- Hard work; strong work ethic
- Prosperity; success
- Activism; making a difference; rebelliousness
- Unity; team oriented
- Women having careers; bringing women into the workforce
But DISAPPOINTED that their generation is known for:
- Chasing dollars; being materialistic; excessive lifestyle
- Starting the drug culture. Meaningless sex and drugs
- Haven’t passed independence along to kids
- Neglect of children (in daycare)
- Vietnam
They believe their generation is UNFAIRLY STEREOTYPED as:
- Out of touch with the younger generation; not caring about the younger generation
- The ME generation; selfish; narcissistic; materialistic
- Difficulty embracing or understanding computer technology
- Stuffy; aloof; know-it-alls
- Out of touch with social media
- Male chauvinists
Baby Boomers most often DESCRIBE THEMSELVES as: having a Strong Work Ethic, Loyal and Task-Oriented.
Generation X
Now between the ages of 39 and 53 years old, Generation X was born between 1965 and 1979. While this generation has often been overlooked — caught between two larger generations as Americans were having fewer children — Generation X professionals have an average of 20 years in the workplace and are poised to step into leadership roles as Baby Boomers retire.
Generation X had the first latchkey children of dual-income parents. They experienced their parents getting laid off from work and lying politicians (Watergate) leading the country. For this generation, technology evolved from an information source to an entertainment source, with Sesame Street on TV and console games in the home.
Generation X is characterized as: Informal, Self-Reliant and Balancing Work and Time Off.
Generation X survey respondents said…
They are PROUD that their generation is known for:
- Taking on racism; inclusion; open-mindedness
- Ability to adjust to change in technology; technology know-how; technology advancements
- Music videos; such good music!
- Practicality and toughness
- Stability
But DISAPPOINTED that their generation is known for:
- Compliance; conformity
- Not an activist generation; slow to take on important issues
- Debt; lack of pensions; lack of preparing for future
- Self-absorption; slackers; self-centered behavior; greed; selfishness
- Children of divorce
- Too focused on work; career first, family second
They believe their generation is UNFAIRLY STEREOTYPED as:
- Selfish; apathetic; disaffected
- Unimportant; the in-between generation; meaningless
- Materialistic; spoiled; complainers
- Being boring; shallow
- Lazy and self-centered; slackers
- Disappointing; haven’t moved the needle as fast as the next generation would like
Generation X professionals DESCRIBE THEMSELVES as: Self-reliant, having a Strong Work Ethic and Accepting of Differences.
Millennials
It’s no surprise that Millennials are thought to be the most-studied generation yet. Born between 1980 and 1994, Millennials are now 24 to 38 years old. Most are in the workforce, some with 10+ years of experience and in supervisory roles.
Millennials grew up during an economic recession, followed by a boom, then a bust. They were raised by often-divorced parents who kept them busy and protected from disappointment as children. The emergence of the Internet, ever-on news (CNN) and music videos (MTV) provided 24/7 digital stimulation and interaction.
Millennials are known as: Confident, Hotly Competitive and Self-focused.
Our Millennial survey participants told us…
Millennials are PROUD that their generation is known for:
- Activism; standing up for our rights; changing the world for good
- Technology advancement; technology in the workplace
- Acceptance of diversity; open minds
- Work to live and not live to work
- Being dedicated parents
But DISAPPOINTED that their generation is known for:
- Being addicted to technology; being so reliant on technology
- Immaturity; needing hand-holding; being unable to handle adversity
- Entitlement attitude; wanting everything now; complaining
- Lack of responsibility; lazy; laziness
They believe their generation is UNFAIRLY STEREOTYPED as:
- Lazy and unmotivated; poor performers
- Too focused on social media
- Privileged snowflakes; spoiled; entitled; arrogant; whiny
- Needing hand holding, encouragement and recognition for everything; being coddled and dependent
- Immature; naive
- Do not respect elders
- Self-absorbed
- Not good communicators
Millennials DESCRIBE THEMSELVES as: Accepting of Differences, Balancing Work and Time Off and Entrepreneurial.
Generation Z
With an age range of 4 to 23 years (born between 1995 and 2014), the first of Generation Z is just starting to enter the workforce. Most are still in school, but this youngest generation is already making an impact in the workforce.
Generation Z experienced “9/11,” the War on Terror and the global financial crisis. The world they know is global – interconnected, interdependent. Largely racially diverse and multicultural, this generation is coming of age as same-sex marriage is legal, Barack Obama is the first person of color to be elected President and ethnic diversity is the norm. Generation Z grew up immersed in digital connections, as personal computers, smartphones, world wide web and social media became ubiquitous. Netflix, Google, GPS reinforced the “always available, always on, always there” availability of digital content and tools.
Generation Z is known for being: Accepting of Differences, Entrepreneurial and Wired.
The Generation Z professionals who participated in the survey said…
They are PROUD that their generation is known for:
- Activism; march for our lives
- Ease of technology usage
- Innovation
But DISAPPOINTED that their generation is known for:
- Having our heads stuck in our phones; dumb internet trends
- Laziness; little work ethic
They believe their generation is UNFAIRLY STEREOTYPED as:
- Indecisive
- Entitled; spoiled; too lazy to work
Generation Z professionals DESCRIBE THEMSELVES as: Accepting of Differences, Balancing Work and Time Off and Task Oriented.
We were surprised that, within each generation, there is a high level of agreement around which traits are most favorably and unfavorably associated with that generation. Our results provide great reminders of what diverse experiences and skills come to the workplace through multiple generations, where there may be blind spots and how easy it is to unfairly evaluate others based on stereotypes.
Interested in more detail about how each generation characterizes themselves? Download our summary of the relevant survey responses.
Enjoy!
P.S. If you’re interested in seeing the full survey results, contact us. We’d be happy to share the report.
