The Generation X And Generation Y

Every generation is influenced by its period 's economic, political and social events. From the Great Depression to the civil rights and women 's movements to the advent of television and advanced computer technologies. Thus generational background/situation may also affect the way they work. The key is to be able to effectively address and take advantage of the differences in values and expectations of each generation in the workplace. The current work place consists of four different generations; The Baby Boomers (1946-1964) who are slowly retiring and existing the workforce, The Generation X (1965-1976), The Generation Y or millennia (1977-1997), and the Generation Z who are about to or are just entering the work force. Although these different generations tend to want similar things in a workplace their environment/background has shaped their character, values, and expectations (Hahn 2011).

Makrovich (2013) in a study of stereotypes work in both generations are depending on the nature of the generation. Furthermore, the generation X should appreciate and be ready to adapt to the way work ethic generation Y. The difference between the two generations will maintain loyalty to the leadership of senior generation trends. Enticement, pleasure seeking, self direction and task-oriented are the dominant trait on generation X working stereotype. This is where they are more on task-oriented, independent and also more on self-reliant in their working ethics in the workplace. Generation X at workplace was this generation are easier to adapt and also have high expectation in the workplace. Generation X by virtue can developed living skills

The current generations in the workplace today are Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. Each generation brings their own values and mindsets to the mix. Although genetics play a part in a person’s characteristics, the generation in which someone is born into also plays an integral part in shaping their mind, values, goals, and work ethics. People from the same generation share similar experiences, and this can influence how they think politically and socially.

America has about five generations that function in our society today, and they are Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and the Millennial. It is interesting the way that an age gap influences the thinking of millions of people in different generations. Different times and situations require that different strategies be put in place for the following generation. Solutions that worked for one generation may be less useful for the next, so sometimes, because of the age gap, these solutions cause disagreements. These various ideologies all have one goal, and that is to be successful. We will discuss the path of the Baby Boomers and Generation X in the workplace environment.

Baby boomers like work and they have a strong work ethic. This generation group have a positive attitude towards work and are not afraid to toil hard in the workplace. The baby boomers obtain their satisfaction and self-worth directly from career and professional achievements. Due to the dedication and positive attitude that this group has towards work, it may be challenging for them to establish a working balance between home and work. On the other hand, the generation Xers lack the workaholic attitudes that their boomer parents have. They do not prioritize work and the Xers tend to have a negative attitude towards work and may change jobs frequently. Generation Xers are treated as the slacker generation. Their diverse attitudes towards work are attributed to the concept of developing a life/work balance. Generation X question the authoritative figures in the workplace (Lyons & Kuron, 2014). The millennials or generation Ys are the current groups of workers regarded as a global-centric generation. The millennials are predicted to make approximately half of the workforce globally by 2050. The millennials are lazy and see work in a slightly different way compared to the earlier generations.

Upon selecting employees, a company should analyze the human characteristics of generation difference and apply different management styles on different generations. For Example, when a company needs independent, self-motivated and self-sufficient employees, Gen Xs should be considered first. If present supervisors have strong leading and controlling desires, they should recruit from baby boomers or Gen Ys.

This generation like to work efficiently and make every second count, for example they use the full eight hours of work and nothing less. This differs from generation x where they (generation x) would rather do their work in less time and leave work early (Thoni, 2002), this creates a generation gap. According to Kogan (2001)(Kogan, 2001) they want recognition, fame and praise from their employer. They live for “the now” and strive to have a rich existence (Jorgensen, 2003).

Millennial joined the workforce between 1980 and 2000. Millennial prefer to work in a team for projects rather than working individually. This generation of worker prefers to make friends at work and work well with diverse co-workers. Millennial have a can-do attitude but often require frequent feedback some as often as daily. This generation of workers also prefers step-by-step instructions or direction on how to complete an assigned task. They desire leadership and structure from their older co-workers.

Baby boomers are the second group and they were born in the years between 1946 and 1964. More than sixty six percent of them have jobs and thirty three percent of them own their homes. These individuals are optimistic, self-sufficient and place high regard on personal growth. With regards to work ethics, they can multitask and work for long hours. Generation X is the next generation and can be termed as individuals who were born in the years between 1965 and 1977. This group is the best educated and at least forty percent of them have attained a college education. Money is their main motivation and they are highly materialistic. Concerning work ethics, they are viewed as people that can move between jobs and can keep up with changes within organizations. They desire to have their skills and talents to be appreciated and valued. They are risk takers and need continuous feedback and coaching from management. The final generation is known as the Millennials and they were born between 1989 and 1978, Rizzo (2009) defined them as having high levels of cultural diversity, individualism, and general comfort, they were also born during the technology boom. Millennials are hardworking, negotiate for their welfare and are technologically savvy.

As Americans, we spend countless hours at our jobs, working together with people of all different ages, backgrounds, races, and gender. All of which influence each individual’s mentality towards their jobs and their goals. There has been research to show that there are some drastic differences between generations that make working a little more difficult. These differences influence the many aspects of people management including recruitment, training and development, career development, rewards and working arrangements, and management styles as well as having the potential to cause serious conflicts within the workplace (Parry and Urwin, Generational Differences in Work Values: A Review of Theory and Evidence). That being said, it seems that our company has unfortunately discovered a disconnect with the newest generation in the work force, Generation Y.

The interviews provided general consensus that Millennials were not giving regularly, proportionately, or generously. Stein and Evans have Millennial children. Youngberg had Generation X children. Most had some teaching exposure with Millennials as teachers, designers, and home life as parents. Between the four previous teachers and designers of the curriculum, there was a unique mix of a certified public accountant, engineer, master’s in business administration, pastor, and an average guy. The ability of those members of the teaching team and the design phase to handle most questions and provide a balanced approach was the genius of the group. Both Evans and Youngberg expressed frustration that Millennials need to step up more and own

This paper inquires about the generational differences between the Generation X (1961-1981) and Generation Y (1981-2001). After reviewing several articles and identifying the important information, it has been summed up in one paper. It includes, growing up in different eras and how they compare and contrast. As well as, what it was like to learn in those era’s, meaning mostly how has technology advanced our learning programs and teaching techniques. The reader will also find how it is to work with the different generations of people, more importantly their weaknesses and strengths. How work hours have shifted from 13-14 hour days and decreased all the way to 7-8 hour days. They do seem to balance each other out being the Gen Y, also known as Millennials or Digital Natives, are capable of multitasking throughout their shifts due to the technology available. Times are definitely changing and it is time to jump on board if you would like to sail smoothly.

assignment could not have come at a better time for me, because I have an interview this Wednesday after this assignment is due for a leadership position at MillerCoors. While I am preparing for my behavioral interview and writing this paper, I am pondering of what type of people I would be managing. At MillerCoors, there are three generations that are currently working side by side in the area that I currently work at in packaging. Theses generations are broken down into three distinct groups. They include the baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, generation X born between 1965 and 1980, and generation Y, born between 1980 and 1994 (Hitt, Black, & Porter, 2011). Nearly 60 percent of MillerCoors Golden employees are Baby Boomers. Therefore, by understanding how baby boomers think, work ethic, social needs, interests and goals, is critical in knowing what those years of experience mean with an optimistic belief system associated with hard work.

Many people believe that previous generation of Americans was completely different than the generation that lives now days. Ideology and interests have completely changed. For instance, we all know that previous generation cared a lot for peace in the world, human rights and equality of mankind. Martin Luther King, John. F. Kennedy and Malcolm X are people who fought for equality among people and most famous representatives of Generation X. But compared to the previous generation, my generation is completely different, and many people are having a debate whether it’s good or bad. Thomas Friedman in his essay “Generation Q”

As I grew up I realized that my life is very different from the life that my parents and my grandparents lived and probably will be different from the life my children will live. Some people say that every generation is different from each other. Throughout history many generation have been named after something that it’s said to describe them in every way, Tim Urban called the generation I live in the Generation Y or GYPSY’s. The generation my parents lived in was called Generation X or Baby Boomers. The Gen X and Y are very different in some aspects while in other they are very similar.