Workforce Generations
The Veterans (1925-1946)
The workforce is divided into four specific generations, with the first one being the Veterans, also referred to as the Silent Generation. The above group of the workforce was born before 1945, but some scholars state that the earliest birth year was1922. Apparently, each team of the workforce has its distinct characteristics and virtues that make it unique from the other groups. They are appreciated as the most loyal group of workers, have the highest level of dedication to their work, and are risk averts. The values embraced by the above group of employees are renowned to have evolved from the Great Depression (Çelikdemir &Tukel, 2015). Moreover, the group indicates a strong commitment to teamwork and collaborates with each other due to their extensive interpersonal skills. They are the elderly population in the U.S., and are renowned for their extreme conservation measures and saving skills acquired from the post-war era.
Baby Boomers (1946-1964)
The baby boomers are known for their high priority to work and often distrust authority and other systems. The attributes of the above group of people are traced back from the Viet Nam, inflation and the incident of civil rights activism. Compared to the previous generation, the Baby Boomers are open to change and optimistic in nature, an aspect that contributes to their need to fulfill personal gratification.
Generation Xers (1965-1980)
They are otherwise referred to as the "slackers" and are renowned for questioning authority and bringing a balance in work life. The people that fall in the above generation were born during the decline in population and are renowned for having high levels of technical skills and are independent as compared to past generations. However, the above sets of individuals are not committed to their work as previous generations and are good at adapting to changes in the current global setting (Ozkan & Solmaz, 2015).
Generation Ys (born after 1980)
They are considered as global-centric because of their experience in life in the current global era of continued internet use. They are more diverse to change and have invested more in technological innovation and incorporate people who are most educated at the workplace. Like the silent, they are team-centric due to their experience in life such as sports, music and other activities that encourage collaboration.
References
Çelikdemir, D. Z., & Tukel, I. (2015). Incorporating ethics into strategic management with regards to generation Y’s view of ethics. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 207, 528–535.
Ozkan, M., & Solmaz, B. (2015). The changing face of the employees – generation Z and their perceptions of work (A study applied to university students). Procedia Economics and Finance, 26, 476–483.
