Generational Values in the Workplace: Differences and Dominant Values - Lesson | Study.com (2024)

• Traditionalists: Over the years, this generation has become the result of blending the Greatest Generation (1901 - 1924) and the Silent Generation (1925 - 1945). Traditionalists experienced things like the tail end of the Great Depression and the two World Wars. They experienced tough times when younger but began to see some prosperity toward the end of the period.
• Baby Boomers: Many of us have heard this term used, and it relates to the generation born between 1946 and 1964. Baby Boomers are individuals that were born during a period of increased birth rates following World War II. Their experiences helped to shape our country; issues such as the sexual revolution, the Vietnam War, and the emergence and development of civil rights also shaped how these individuals think and view the world.
• Generation X: Gen Xers, as they are called, are individuals born from 1965 to 1980. These individuals experienced, in many ways, a very tumultuous time, with the issues of the day being things such as Watergate, the development of 'latchkey kids' (children who came home from school and did not have a parent home when they got there due to dual-income families), and the energy crisis.
• Millennials: Millennials, sometimes called Generation Y, were born during the time frame of 1980 to the year 1996. They saw an explosion in technology but also saw many issues of the day that most certainly impacted how they view the world, including issues such as AIDS, school shootings, and terrorist attacks.
• Generation Z: Born between 1997 and 2012, this generation is most notably the social media awareness generation with cell phones and other technology booming during this time. They are also a generation of activists for climate change. The older of generation Z experienced online education and are now in the workforce experiencing flexibility with remote work versus on site employment.

As we look at these generations, it could be argued they have many things in common such as war or terrorism or sexual revolution or AIDS, but the fact is each of these generations look at the world very differently than the next due to what they experienced in their formative years to their young adult years. What each experienced shaped who they are as individuals, and in many ways, those experiences are what define the generation gap that is prevalent between generations.

To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account

• Traditionalists: Adherence to rules, discipline, family focus, hard work, and trust in the government
• Baby Boomers: Anti-war, anti-government, equal rights, involvement, and personal gratification
• Generation X: Balance, diversity, lack of loyalty to an organization, and a global mindset
• Millennials: Achievement, fun, civic duty, sociability, and self-confidence
• Gen Z: Environmentally conscious, tech-savvy, and socially aware.

So as you can see, while there might be some similarity between the values of different generations, the main glaring issue is how different each generation's values are. The variance in values is another driver of the generation gap. Think how challenging it is for a manager who might be a Traditionalist (though due to the times they were born, there are not many of those left) to understand the work ethic of a Gen X'er. The two sets of values are so far apart, it's almost impossible to find common ground. Thus, the generation gap that we are all so aware of is always present.

To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account

For example: Traditionalists have a work ethic that shows they are dedicated, work hard, respect authority, and expect age to equal seniority. In comparison, Baby Boomers commonly demonstrate work ethic by being workaholics and gauging their worth by their work ethics. Generation Xers have work ethics that focus on being balanced, self-reliant, and eliminating risk. Finally, Millennials and Generation Z have a work ethic that shows itself through ambition, multitasking, and more of an entrepreneurial spirit than the other generations.

With such a wide expanse of work ethics, we can see how the workplace can become a very diverse environment as it relates to work ethics. That diversity, while embraced in many business cultures today, makes it challenging for managers as they have to recognize their viewpoints and work ethics are not going to be the same as another generation's. That single difference, this blending of values and ethics based on generational aspects, makes the modern-day workplace more diverse and challenging than ever before.

Embracing differences is just as important as not stereotyping an individual based on their generation. First and foremost, people should be seen and treated as individuals even when they share the characteristics of a group.

To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account

• Traditionalists: Experienced things like the tail end of the Great Depression and the two World Wars. They experienced tough times when younger but began to see some prosperity toward the end of the period.
• Baby Boomers: Experienced many different aspects of life and shaped our country. Issues such as the sexual revolution, the Vietnam War, and the emergence and development of civil rights also shaped how these individuals think and view the world.
• Generation X: Experienced a very tumultuous time, with the issues of the day being things such as Watergate, the development of 'latchkey kids' (children who came home from school and did not have a parent home when they got there due to dual-income families), and the energy crisis.
• Millennials: Saw an explosion in technology but also saw many issues of the day that most certainly impacted how they view the world, including issues such as AIDS, school shootings, and terrorist attacks.
• Generation Z: Grew up surrounded by the impacts of social media with technology becoming necessary in everyday activities, which contributed to their being environmentally aware, active in social issues, and flexible in working online or on location.

Each generation makes their mark on the world in many ways, and the world makes a mark on them. It will be interesting to see what the next generation will be and how it will be shaped by the events of the day.

To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account

• Define generation
• Name and describe each of the four basic generations

To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account