Generations at Work…Then and Now

No matter how long you’ve been in the workforce, surely you’ve witnessed disagreements and misunderstandings occur among employees. Have you ever wondered what’s at the heart of these differing perspectives?

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Roughly fifteen years ago, Robin Throckmorton, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP (Founder of Strategic HR) and Linda Gravett, PhD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CEQC (Senior Partner, Gravett and Associates) set out to understand these differences in work and life perspectives. Through their research, they discovered that people’s perspectives and preferences were strongly aligned with the generation they represent. In their book, Bridging the Generation Gap, Throckmorton and Gravett shared what they learned about the five generations in the workplace. Learn more about the book below.

But what about today?

What changes have occurred in attitudes, behaviors, and preferences among the generations at work since Throckmorton’s and Gravett’s original research? That’s what Robin and her colleagues wanted to know when they launched the 2021 Survey on the Generations.

Our new findings address five key areas of research:

Formative Years & Personal Happiness

Job Search, Workplace Preferences, & Motivation

Remote Work Preferences

Bothersome Characteristics of Other Generations

What Each Generation Wants You to Know

Download Your Free Copy of Generations at Work Survey Insights

Bridging The Generation Gap

How to Get Radio Babies, Boomers, Gen Xers, and Gen Yers to Work Together and Achieve More

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Discover how a multigenerational workplace can thrive…

What generation are you part of? What about your boss or co-workers? How do different generations impact your workplace?

In Bridging the Generation Gap, HR experts and members of different generations share real-life examples as they recommend solutions to minimize conflict, miscommunication, and wasted energy between the generations. They also explore what members of each different generation think of their group, how they want others to view them, and what they think about other age groups.

This book, written by Robin Throckmorton, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP and Linda Gravett, PhD, SPHR, is filled with strategies and solutions that are easy to implement, helping you to immediately build bridges between generations not only within the workplace but also in day to day life.

Interested in related training? Visit our Generations in the Workplace Training to learn more!

About the Book

Miscommunication… Employee conflict… Work ethic debates… Loyalty issues… Varying wants and needs…

No matter what position you hold within your organization – manager, human resources professional, business owner, individual contributor – you are faced with these types of issues every day. But why?

Currently, there are six generations in the workplace:

Radio Babies (born 1930-1945)
Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964)
Generation X (born 1965-1976)
Generation Y: First Wave of Millennials (born 1977-1990)
Generation Z: Second Wave of Millennials (born 1991-2001)
Generation Alpha (born 2002 and after)

Each of them has a different perspective based on their upbringing and daily lives. The key to making encounters between the generations successful is learning to understand the point of view of each generation, recognizing their similarities, and respecting their differences. The individuals and organizations that do this will be the ones to succeed. This book will show you how.

Co-authors Gravett and Throckmorton take a dynamic approach to the situation by writing in two distinct voices—as a Baby Boomer and a Gen-Xer—using a “point-counterpoint” approach to identify differences and similarities across generations. They share hands-on experiences, real-life cases, recommended solutions, and ground-breaking research on how members of any generation can better relate to minimize conflict, miscommunication, and wasted energy.

You will learn what each generation thinks of the others and how each wishes the others viewed them. Bridging the Generation Gap is filled with strategies and solutions you can implement immediately to help build your own bridges between the generations.

About the Authors

Dr. Linda Gravett, SPHR,CEQC

Baby Boomer

(Cincinnati, OH) Senior Partner with Gravett and Associates and President/CEO of Just the Basics, Inc. Linda is a national speaker and human resources consultant specializing in generational differences, workplace ethics, and emotional intelligence. She has a strategic, big-picture approach toward understanding age differences.

Robin Throckmorton, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Gen Xer

(Cincinnati, OH) Founder and Retired Share holder of Strategic HR Robin is a business coach and frequent speaker on successful business operations, generations, and the labor market. She has a practical, “tell it like it is” approach toward tearing down stereotypes and building collaboration to improve organizational effectiveness.

Articles by Robin

Generations

Attracting and Connecting the Next Generation

Written By Robin Throckmorton, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP for the Cincinnati Business Courier Leadership Trust Click to Read the Full Article

Generations

What has happened to the work ethic? Nothing?!

As an author and frequent speaker on the generations in the workplace, I'm often asked "what has happened to the work ethic of our workers?" Has work ethic really changed? Or, is it a matter of how we are getting work done that has actually…

Generations

The Gen Y Recruitment Solution

The labor storm has officially hit land and we are all struggling to survive as the economy is picking up with full force. Businesses got a glimpse of the surge in 2005 but are beginning to see the real magnitude of the need for labor AND skills…

Generations

Recruiting and Retaining Millennials

The Millennial generation now dominates our workforce as they have successfully surpassed the Baby Boomer generation. And guess what, multiple studies show we can expect the Millennials to be 50% of the workforce by 2020 and 75% of the global…

Generations

What Is the Business World Doing to Support the Sandwich Generation?

Question: With so much focus lately on Millennial's, I’m curious what employers are doing to support another group of employees -- the Sandwich Generation? Answer: For employees in the Sandwich Generation who are caring not only…

Generations

Minimizing Conflict Across Generations

This is a true scenario that happened recently in an organization in the U.S.: Susan, a 35-year-old Vice President, stormed into the Human Resource Director’s office after a difficult meeting with an older direct report. Susan has been in…

Generations

What the Generations Want at Work – Part 2: Insights for HR, Managers, & Teams

Generations

The Results Are In… Here’s What Generations Want at Work!

Generations

Are You Struggling to Recruit Millennials?

Whether you like it or not, the Millennial generation has arrived; and amid the stereotypes, this is a generation that is determined to reach success. While it may be hard to look past the labels that have been put on this young generation,…

Testimonials

“This is an entertaining and insightful look at the ever-increasing multigenerational business dilemma in the 21st century. Eye-opening ideas with immediate application to work and home!”

Cindy Vogt, MBA, SPHR Director of HR, The Discovery Channel

“When you finish reading this book it will not go on the bookshelf. Instead, you will keep it at your side and use it as a reference manual. It is loaded with many “how to” tips that are practical and timely. The authors effectively debunk the myths attributed to the various generations and chart a path to success.”

Dan AmannSenior HR Consultant, Promark Financial

“For the Generation Y information, it has been really helpful to look at these individuals in the workplace and out in the world with a less judgmental eye. I know that I sound like an old timer saying this, but I thought that they were just young. Now, however, I understand that how they were influenced by their world was different than how I was influenced by my world.”

Michelle BladesDeskey

Generations at Work…Then and Now

But what about today?

Our new findings address five key areas of research:

Bridging The Generation Gap

Order now on

Discover how a multigenerational workplace can thrive…

About the Book

About the Authors

Dr. Linda Gravett, SPHR,CEQC

Robin Throckmorton, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Articles by Robin

Attracting and Connecting the Next Generation

What has happened to the work ethic? Nothing?!

The Gen Y Recruitment Solution

Recruiting and Retaining Millennials

What Is the Business World Doing to Support the Sandwich Generation?

Minimizing Conflict Across Generations

What the Generations Want at Work – Part 2: Insights for HR, Managers, & Teams

The Results Are In… Here’s What Generations Want at Work!

Are You Struggling to Recruit Millennials?

Testimonials

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