Understanding Baby Boomers, Gen X-ers, and Millennials in the Workforce

We’re at a fascinating time in the workforce right now. Baby Boomers, Gen X-ers, and Millennials are all working together in harmony but in different capacities. Here’s what you need to understand about the differences between Baby Boomers, Gen X-ers, and Millennials in the workforce.

Baby Boomers

Baby boomers are the quintessential definition of “workaholics.” They are used to working extremely long hours to achieve the results they want, and believe that work ethic directly translates to work quality. Baby Boomers believe that positions of authority and power should be granted to those who have acquired a fair amount of experience and who have worked hard enough for it.

Many Baby Boomers have sacrificed other pursuits (such as families, vacation, and hobbies) in favor of working the traditional way up the ladder. They expect to be given respect for all the time they have put into their careers.

Gen X-ers

Gen X-ers are typically viewed as being cautious and intelligent when it comes to working. They don’t work as many hours as Baby Boomers, and they work “smarter” than Millennials do. They would much rather prefer to have a task assigned to them and complete it in entirety before moving on to the next task. Gen X-ers are inherently independent and excel in situations in which they are given the chance to work alone or assign their own values. In terms of their role, Gen X-ers tend to be the people in the company who can take a certain task and finish it without wasting or diverting any time.

Millennials

Millennials are firmly in the camp of working to live, and not the other way around. Many millennials view their jobs as a means to an end and prefer to leave the office as soon as the clock strikes five o’clock. Unlike Gen X-ers, Millennials prefer to collaborate with one another and multi-task on many different projects at once.

Millennials also differ from Baby Boomers in that they aren’t workaholics and view their worth as being defined by contribution as opposed to merit or experience. Overall, millennials make good employees if they feel like their voice is being heard and if it’s understood that work is not their primary passion in life.

If you are trying to decide whether you should hire a Baby Boomer, Gen X-er, or Millennial, contact Award Staffing. We will be able to sit down with you and assess the correct situation for your business depending on your unique needs. All of the generations provide very different experiences and have different outlooks, so it is important to take that into account when making your hiring decisions.