Are You Ready to Hire and Manage Five Generations of Workers in America

Case Study: Are you ready to hire and manage five generations of workers in America

Jennifer Kritz

GB520 Strategic Human Resources Management

May 24th, 2013

Abstract

The purpose of this case study is to review the newest challenge in the workplace, how to work with five generations and how we can effectively manage them. It is not uncommon to have multi-generations in the workplace what is new is the addition of the fifth. Each one of these generations requires a different management technique and a different set of expectations. The key is to understand each generation; their needs and expectations. Will you be ready to hire and manage five generations of workers in America?

Are you ready to hire and manage five generations of workers in America?

Look around at the company you work for. How many generations do you see? Within the next few years we will see five generations working together. There are several resources to discuss the differences within the generations and the expectations of each. There are several different names for each of the generations and the dates differ depending on the resource you are viewing. Looking at each of these generations will help managers understand the differences and how to approach, manage and provide assistance to each generation.

Generations

There are many differences as to what dates and names of the generations are. The terms you may have heard in regards to the generations are: Matures, GI Generation, Traditionalist, Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, Millennials, Next Gen, or Gen Z (Rosenberg, 2013). Each of these generations has had signposts (significant life events) that have formed, changed and guided them into being different from their parents. They are also unique in motivation, core values, work style and work ethic. As managers we are tasked with understanding each of these generations and learning how to help them be successful in the working world. If you do a...