Ch 4: Generation Issue in Workplace Diversity

Question 1

What are the for main generations of employees at work?

Answer 1

Veterans, Baby Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y

Question 2

What are the main characteristics of Veterans?

Answer 2

-Aka “Silent Generation, Matures, the traditional Generation

Bron between 1925-1942

Oldest gen, most already retired.

Grew up between world wars and the Depression: hard economic times

Society stressed morality, obligations, social norms, tradition, loyalty

Question 3

How do veterans operate in the workplace?

Answer 3

• Respect authority, accept traditional executive decision-making commanded model of management believing in its effectiveness.

-Get satisfaction from doing jobs well- a work ethic based on commitment, responsibility and conformity as key to success

Question 4

What are the characteristics of Baby boomers?

Answer 4

-born between 1943-1964

-Post-war baby-boom

-Raised in wealth and expansion

-Fiercely competitive having had to fight for everything because of so many peers

-Social Changes- women’s movement, increase in tech

Question 5

Hw are boomers in the workplace?

Answer 5

• Workaholics who barely stop- go the extra mile, expect promotion, titles, corner offices
• Self-absorbed, striving for self-realisation
• work from emotion and intuition
• good interpersonal skills, use their appreciation for democracy teamwork to achieve goals

Question 6

Characteristics of generation X

Answer 6

-born 1965-1981

-Name given by Gouglas Coupland who wrote about late boomers, and Gen X was popularized by media moguls who used the phrase in the 90’s

-“modern” kids in dual-income families where their parents were absorbed in consumerism

-Independent
-Focus on work-life balance due to parent divorce rates- live by “work to live” not “live to work”.

Question 7

Gen X in Workplace?

Answer 7

• Just-in-time loyalty rather than “cradle to grave” loyalty of previous generations - doing a good job in return for employers meeting their job demands
• Expect to maintain career security and enhance marketability through challenging jobs in which they are constantly learning- focus on competencies than longevity
• Pragmatic, hardworking, ambitious, selfish, determined to succeed financially

Question 8

Gen Y characteristics

Answer 8

Born between 1982-1994

Aka Nexters, Millenials, Gen Why, Internet Gen

-Came during shift back to virtues and values, closer to parents

-Tech savvy like gen x

Question 9

Gen Y in the workplace.

Answer 9

-Work that isn’t a learning experience/leads to something better is a dead end and should be avoided

• Questions authority and policies

-Keen sense of fairness and fair play

-Despite negative perceptions, they are more cooperative, better team players, and more optimistic about the future than their older colleagues.

Question 10

Implications for managers

Answer 10

Managing- Veteran- duty, honour, tradition; to individualistic, authenticity, and tech-savvy Gen Y

Managers need to value diversity and develop new strategies that recognise employee’s values and attitudes