This is the first time in history that organizations have had up to four generations within the same work group. The different generations have different needs and preferences.
The four generations include:
Traditionals
- Population: 27 Million
- Born: Before 1946
- WWII
- Stock-market crash
- Stay-at-home moms
- Employer/Employee ‘Physiological Contract’
- Respect for authority
- Sacrifice
- Conformity
Baby Boomers
- Population: 76 Million
- Born: 1946 - 1964
- More women in the workforce
- 60 – hour work week
- Cautiously loyal
- Strong work-ethic
- Dependability and commitment
Generation X
- Population: 60 Million
- Born: 1965 - 1978
- Both parents work/are divorced
- More pragmatic than the idealistic Boomers
- Work/Life balance
- Professional development
- Less employer loyalty
Generation Y / Millennials
- Population: 74 Million
- Born: 1979 – 1997
- The most technologically advanced
- Advent of the internet; iPod
- Social networks
- Performance-driven
- Multicultural
- Multitasking
- Team-orientated
