The ageing of the American workplace

Feb 19 2008 by Derek Torres Print This Article

If you've paid any attention to the presidential race in the United States lately, or even if you haven't, you're undoubtedly aware that the overriding theme is one of change.

Despite the speeches and good vibes, it's hardly limited to our politics. Change is slowly taking over the workplace in ways that many people probably see but not notice. One such example is the ageing American workplace.

According to the Coda Consulting Group, there are four generations of Americans currently in the workplace. Each has its own characteristic and values.

Therein lays the challenge that many companies face: how to keep the older generations up to date with technology and business practices while giving the young upstarts a fair shake even if they're at the bottom of the chain.

This multi-generational workforce means that recruiters need to vary their approach and how they sell their company to the prospective employees. It also means that HR and personnel consultants will need to find ways to maintain a cohesive work environment.

This type of change is a benefit in my eyes, as each generation can learn something from a previous (or later) generation.

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