Four Generations in the Workplace
~~Cam Marston, Marston Communications

For this purpose, a generation is defined by common experiences and shared values.
The Matures: 58-94 years old, born 1909-1945;
The Baby Boomers: 39-57 years old, born 1946-1964;
Generation X: 25-38 years old, born 1965-1978;
Generation Y, the Millennials: 24 years and younger, born 1979 --- .

The Matures, a combination of the Veterans and the Silent Generation, share these values:

duty, honor and country
dedication and sacrifice
conformity
patience
hard times, then great prosperity
national pride
doing a good job considered most important
age = seniority.

The Baby Boomers share these values:
work ethic = work ethic/squared
competitive; workaholic
success is visible
optimistic
consumers
defined by their job
personal development
"We are the world; we are the children."

Generation X shares these values:
coming of age when the US was losing, economy, Vietnam, Watergate, Japanese industrial domination
"This company never promised you anything."
No common heroes
First generation to develop an ease and comfort with technology
Suspicious of Boomer values
Had to learn to fend for themselves
Very self reliant.

Generation Y, the Millennials, share these values:
optimistic
individualistic, yet group oriented
short, very short, attention span
busy
entrepreneurial
acknowledge and admire some authorities
think Matures are cool, parents, too!
ambitious yet clueless.

These four generations are different when it comes to technology, sacrifice and heroes; respect for authority, skill building, time spent on the job, and work/life balance.

Respect for Authority:

Matures: authority is based largely on seniority and tenure
Boomers: champions of democracy, initially skeptical of authority, more similar to Mature values
Gen X: skeptical of authority figures and will test them, repeatedly
Gen Y: will test but search them out, need their guidance.

Time on the Job:
Matures: work ethic defined by the punch clock. Get it done.
Boomers: visibility is the key, workaholics.
Gen X: "What does it matter when I work as long as I get the job done?"
Gen Y: "It's 5 o'clock! I have another life to get to!" Job = gig.

Skill-Building:
Matures: Training happens on the job. New skills benefit the entire company.
Boomers: An ingredient to being successful, but not as important as work ethic.
Gen X: My next job will come from my amassed skills.
Gen Y: Skills are important - they alleviate the stresses of daily life.

Work / Life Balance:
Matures: Are interested in flexible hours
Boomers: "Was / is this workaholic lifestyle worth it?"
Gen X: Balance is very important. Willing to sacrifice it occasionally.
Gen Y: Lifestyle vs. promotion.