Boomers and Xers make up 88% of the workforce, but only about 27% are actively engaged employees, according to the most recent Gallup research. In fact, the only generation with a strong margin of actively engaged employees was the Traditionalists (I call them the Matures), whose engagement profile is 44% – yet they represent only 4% of all employees. So what does this mean for employers? If nearly 75% of employees are not engaged or actively disengaged – that is, they would considering leaving their place of employment if another opportunity surfaced or they are actively seeking alternate employment –… Read More
Categories: Generations, WorkplaceTradesmen. Craftsmen. Artisans. Skilled laborers. Whatever you want to call it, they are a dying breed and businesses are taking note. As Gen X and Millennials vie for white collar office space, or skip the corporate world and jump right into a start-up, the master-apprentice tradition of learning specific skills on the job and over years is getting lost. And as Boomers retire, trade skills are getting lost too. Businesses that rely on skilled labor need to work hard, and fast, to replace that centuries-old tradition and bring new apprentices into the fold. As mentioned in the article linked above,… Read More
Categories: Generations, WorkplaceIt is no secret that technology know-how of youth raised in the age of the smartphones in the pocket far outpaces those who were raised with rotary phones tethered to the kitchen wall. Today’s youth don’t really need to be taught how to use technology, rather, they need to be taught when and why to choose technology to communicate in the best way. Even then, they may be teaching that to you. A recent study by CompTIA reveals that Millennials often look at the technology offerings of potential employers when determining interest in potential job. Using social media effectively for… Read More
Categories: Downloadable Media, WorkplaceGen Xers have long been jaded with the traditional corporate structure – hierarchies don’t sit well with this group that gives respect via personal interactions rather than at the command of an org chart. Still, the corporate world has its perks and Gen Xers were known to negotiate for them – flex time, company cell phones, telecommuting – these were the hallmarks of the generation. Today, studies indicate these perks may not be enough. According to the BBC, companies are increasingly focused on retention of Boomers and attracting Millennials, while Gen Xers are feeling left behind. Frustrated by a lack… Read More
Categories: Succession Planning, WorkplaceI’ve long recommended that employees connect younger employees with the elder statesmen (and women) of the company – either in addition to or instead of the traditional “next level up” mentor system. From a generational perspective, it seems that this youngest generation in the workforce has a sense of idealism that resonates with older generations – and is wholly lost on the Gen Xers in between. At MoSoConf – Canada’s mobile and social conference held in Saskatchewan last month – marketing exec Michael Douma delivered the keynote address with a speech titled “Thinking Like a Millennial in an Industry of… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Generations, Product Design, WorkplaceGen Xers are currently in their mid 30s to early 50s and they are feeling the pinch of dual responsibilities. Many are faced with funding college educations while simultaneously supporting elderly parents who may not have the retirement savings to support longer lives and growing health care costs. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Employee Financial Wellness Survey, 30% of Gen X employees have tapped into their retirement savings and 36% expect they will need to – numbers significantly higher than their Boomer and Millennial peers. So, what does that mean for employers? It means a core portion of your workforce is extremely… Read More
Categories: Financial Services, WorkplaceA lot of HR time is spent figuring out how to attract the best and brightest young talent – what are the perks and expectations that can bring the next workforce stars to your business? The AARP, however, wanted to know who was doing a good job attracting the bright, experienced talent that is already available in the Baby Boomer generation. In their recent ranking of the Best Employers for Workers over 50, the National Institutes for Health topped the list. The NIH is joined by four more health care companies in the top five. The AARP attributes the dominance… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Generation Y / Millennials, WorkplaceSocial commentary about Gen Xers and Millennials frequently point out the somewhat recent phenomena of “participation trophies” in youth sports – there may be a winner, but everyone takes home a trophy just for showing up. When those hyper-celebrated kids began entering the workforce they – and their bosses – were in for a rude awakening. Just showing up simply doesn’t impress. So what might we be able to predict about the next generation in the workforce based on their youth sports tendencies today? The fall-out of the hyper-celebrated child is the hyper-specialized athlete. If everyone is awesome, how is… Read More
Categories: ParentingCame across this commentary on inspiring Millennial employees in Forbes the other day and thought it was worth sharing. The theory and tips and “story behind the story” of managing across the generations that our team provides to clients around the country is important. But sometimes it’s helpful to hear it straight from the folks in the trenches figuring out how to make things work. This guy gets it – and what’s even better, he admits he didn’t always get it. Change can lead to good things. Author Ty Kiisel confirms the experiences I’ve had over the years and what… Read More
Categories: Financial Services, Generations, WorkplaceSecession planning is an important part of any organization’s business strategy, and the onslaught of Baby Boomers entering retirement has been woven into news reports for several years now. So why did a recent study by executive search firm Odgers Berndston find that nearly 60% of executives surveyed were unprepared for the change? Turns out they may be ignoring the cultural differences among the generations. That is, while they’ve identified who is leaving and are dutifully transferring business knowledge down the line, they may not be looking at the more subtle – but significant – differences in how each generation… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Generations, Succession Planning