Transcript Document
A presentation by: Vince Pavic
Director of Human Resources and Employee Relations,
Wicomico County Public Schools
To investigate and discuss the phenomenon of having
five (5) different generations in the workplace and why
it matters.
Intended takeaways: A better understanding of what
makes each of these groups tick as well as tips for
managing an ever increasing workforce that is diverse.
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Traditionalists
Baby Boomers
Generation X
Generation Y
Generation Z
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Also known as: Radio Babies, The Silent Generation
Major Events:
The Great Depression
Social Security Act
Hindenburg Explosion
World War II
Japanese attack Pearl Harbor
Detroit, MI race riots
Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6771yXRBJPw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL12CVl_SAM
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Loaf of Bread = 8 cents
Toilet Paper (called tissue then) = 9 cents for 2 rolls
Campbell’s Tomato Soup = 4 cans for 25 cents
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Traditionalists:
Have loyalty and respect for authority
Very defined sense of right vs. wrong
Disciplined
Grew up without television
Rely on the past (draw on their experiences)
Detail-oriented
Like consistency and uniformity
Military leadership style
Few women in the workforce
Very patriotic
Value courtesy, respect and formality
Find feedback unnecessary
They seek to do their job, not win approval
via feedback
Work comes first/willing to sacrifice personal life
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When recruiting and employing the
Traditionalist:
Newspaper Ads
Face-to-face recruitment
Being valued as a worker most important
Salary important, but work is valued very highly
Tap into vast experiences (work and life)
Hard workers who value employers
Lots of Traditionalists re-entering the workforce
struggling with retirement
Clear work rules
Expect a stable work environment
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Also known as: The Sandwich Generation, The Golden
Generation
Major Events:
WWII comes to an end
Korean War comes to an end
Brown v. Board of Education (Baby Boomers are the first
generation to attend integrated elementary schools)
Oral Contraception is approved by the FDA
Kennedy Assassination
Civil Rights Movement
Vietnam War
Moon Landing
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTuioUE2wBE&lis
t=RDHTuioUE2wBE#t=12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrgvW0KFJqg
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Average home prices: $12,700 - $16,000
Average income/year: $5,000 - $9,000
Gallon of gas: 25 – 35 cents
1961 Dodge Dart Pioneer: $2,780
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Baby Boomers:
Value personal choice
Very involved in their community
Are adaptable
Very goal-oriented
Work well on teams
Value ownership
Used typewriters, not computers
Despite Civil Rights Movement, gaps in education and
income levels remain largely unchanged
Work beyond retirement to maintain identity
Have raised children while taking care of aging parents
Like informal, in-person communication
Like meetings (didn’t like my Death by Meeting session)
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When recruiting and employing the Baby
Boomer:
Value a competitive salary, flexible benefits (child care,
elder care)
Promotional opportunities, movement up the ladder
Prefer promotions and material gains over feedback
Flexibility (job sharing, work-life balance) important
Many Boomers contemplating retirement, creating a
worker shortage
Will work long hours and put personal life on hold
Want higher status and material recognition of their
work
Put them to work in teams; emphasize job security
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Presentation Joke Break:
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Also known as: Baby Busters, Latchkey Kids
Major Events:
Watergate
Iranian Hostage Crisis
Gasoline shortages
Tiananmen Square protest
Berlin wall comes down
Reaganomics
MTV begins
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SOUND:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMVe_HcyP9Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL5spALs-eA
SIGHT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gvqpFbRKtQ&list=
PL4384F56CBBA9299F
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Salisbury, MD (1971) – 3 large bedrooms, large kitchen,
dining room, utility room ($16,900)
Car 8-track tape player cost $38.99
In 1979 the average income per year was $17,550.
Apples cost $0.59 for four pounds in CA (1970)
Folgers Coffee cost $1.90/pound (1978)
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Generation X-ers:
Characterized by high levels of skepticism
Very educated
Very independent
Very results-oriented with high expectations
Comfortable with authority but not impressed with
titles
Technically competent
Forced to “figure it out on their own”
May have respect issues due to growing up quickly
Work is a task to be finished
Appreciate frequent communication/feedback
Question “why” before doing something
Seek a work-life balance
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When recruiting and employing the Gen X-er:
Use multiple avenues to attract (Monster, Social media)
Family is important (benefits and salary are critical)
Autonomy and choice is important
Gen Xers do not do well with micromanagement
This is the sandwich employee (Baby Boomers won’t get
out of their way)
Do not expect loyalty and commitment (this generation
was let down)
Let them try different roles at work
Emphasize goals/results instead of calculating hours
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Also known as: Generation Why?, Net Generation,
Millenials, Echo Boomers
Major Events:
Attempted assassination of the Pope
Gulf War
Advent of the PC by IBM
Los Angeles Riots (Rodney King)
AIDS epidemic
Challenger Explosion
Use of DNA to convict criminals used for the first time
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SOUND:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsUXAEzaC3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap2J9RbXaP4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wRHBLwpASw
SIGHT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkX8J-FKndE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clqK5OC3BWE&list
=PL92A8E1DC551B7180
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In 1990 a new home cost $123,000 and by 1999 was
$131,700.
Six pack of Coca-Cola was $0.99 (1996)
Gallon of milk was $1.90 (1998)
Ground coffee was $3.70/pound (1998)
Supernintendo cost $159.00
80’s “bagphones” gave way to Cell phone (2G)
technology and cost around $200
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Generation Y:
Largest generation since the Baby Boomers (3x Gen X)
Incredible sophistication
Grew up with technology
Much more racially and ethnically diverse generation
Very accepting of others and differences
Raised by protective parents
Raised in one of the largest economic booms in U.S.
History
Inquisitive… “Must know”
High sense of entitlement
First “global” generation
Prefer informal and IMMEDIATE
communication
Like to have fun at work
Seek instant gratification
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Salary and benefits expectations will be very high for this
group.
Unmet expectations will cause them to leave
Work social activities are important
Technology and environment
Turnover if not valued
Interactive work groups
Meaningful work
Choice and flexibility
Recruitment/communication: they have been using
technology since childhood
Prefer flexible schedules
Crave training opportunities
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Also known as: New Millenials, Generation 9-11,
Zoomers
Major Events:
9-11
Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
Youtube is launched
Hurricane Katrina
Twitter/Facebook/Social Media explosion
Mars Rover
Barack Obama elected as 44th President of the U.S.
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SOUND:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fibHPYa3nk8
SIGHTS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Bylq3RRr8
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Last year:
Avg. gallon of gas cost about $3.75
Folgers Coffee cost $7.98
Avg. house rent cost approx. $1,195
Avg. new house purchase cost approx. $289,500
2014 Subaru Forester costs $21,995
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Generation Z:
Youngest group in the workforce
Extremely tech-savvy
Preferred mode of communication is texting (email is
for “old folks”)
Generally happy, and secure
Had protective parents that monitored everything;
which was seen as positive
Team players that like engaging in community service
More activities available than ever before; and often
co-ed.
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The jury is still out on a lot of what Gen Z will bring to
the table
Special emphasis should be given toward negotiation
and conflict-resolution skills
Since protected growing up, they are often not used to
conflict or how to deal with it
May involve parents or family in issues at work
Relationship building is critical
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Generational Summary:
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Questions…
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