Gen Xers have long been jaded with the traditional corporate structure – hierarchies don’t sit well with this group that gives respect via personal interactions rather than at the command of an org chart. Still, the corporate world has its perks and Gen Xers were known to negotiate for them – flex time, company cell phones, telecommuting – these were the hallmarks of the generation. Today, studies indicate these perks may not be enough. According to the BBC, companies are increasingly focused on retention of Boomers and attracting Millennials, while Gen Xers are feeling left behind. Frustrated by a lack… Read More
Categories: Succession Planning, WorkplaceThe Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch had a piece recently that spells out the ups and downs of the Millennial generation fairly well. A quick summary of the “10 things” referenced in the title: Don’t like us? Blame our parents. Never mind Occupy Wall Street. We want to be the 1%. Republicans just don’t ‘get’ us. You might not want to hire us… …but soon you might work for us. We have drug problems. We live with our parents. So what? Mom and Dad: Don’t buy us a car. We’re practically professional students. Companies that neglect us will be sorry. Obviously,… Read More
Categories: UncategorizedI’ve long recommended that employees connect younger employees with the elder statesmen (and women) of the company – either in addition to or instead of the traditional “next level up” mentor system. From a generational perspective, it seems that this youngest generation in the workforce has a sense of idealism that resonates with older generations – and is wholly lost on the Gen Xers in between. At MoSoConf – Canada’s mobile and social conference held in Saskatchewan last month – marketing exec Michael Douma delivered the keynote address with a speech titled “Thinking Like a Millennial in an Industry of… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Generations, Product Design, WorkplaceGen Xers are currently in their mid 30s to early 50s and they are feeling the pinch of dual responsibilities. Many are faced with funding college educations while simultaneously supporting elderly parents who may not have the retirement savings to support longer lives and growing health care costs. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Employee Financial Wellness Survey, 30% of Gen X employees have tapped into their retirement savings and 36% expect they will need to – numbers significantly higher than their Boomer and Millennial peers. So, what does that mean for employers? It means a core portion of your workforce is extremely… Read More
Categories: Financial Services, WorkplaceA lot of HR time is spent figuring out how to attract the best and brightest young talent – what are the perks and expectations that can bring the next workforce stars to your business? The AARP, however, wanted to know who was doing a good job attracting the bright, experienced talent that is already available in the Baby Boomer generation. In their recent ranking of the Best Employers for Workers over 50, the National Institutes for Health topped the list. The NIH is joined by four more health care companies in the top five. The AARP attributes the dominance… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Generation Y / Millennials, WorkplaceIn a recently issued report, “Life insurers cast the net wider net for growth: Enter Gen X” the Deloitte Center for Financial Services touches on many of the reasons why life insurers should put more resources behind targeting Generation X buyers, a market segment they have typically eschewed. The report is applicable beyond the life insurance industry, however, as it hits on several of the stereotypes that have kept Gen X out of the spotlight for many professional services. Namely, they have a different buying structure and skeptical nature, which makes for a longer, less easily controlled sales process. But… Read More
Categories: Blog, Product DesignIf Gen X put buying power in the hand of the consumer – relying more on independent research and word of mouth referrals from friends than on company-crafted advertising – then Millennials are putting it in the hands of everyone. That is, not just their family and friends, but their Facebook friends, Twitter followers, etc. In fact, according to NBC News, a recent study conducted by eBay indicated that 20% of young motorists would be willing to conduct a car purchase entirely via a mobile device. While that may be a more extreme stance, the survey results underscore the younger… Read More
Categories: Automotive, BlogThe Washington Post published an interesting – and alarming – story about the increase in suicide attempts among the Baby Boomer generation. According to the article, some of this increase follows a natural trend toward suicide among older individuals, however the actual rate of suicide has also increased – in some cases by as much as 50 percent – between 1999 and 2010. The article goes on to speculate on some of the generational norms that may contribute to this increase. Interestingly, these are the same norms that have shaped how Boomers perform and behave in the workplace. I am… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Training IndustryThe first rule of advertising is to know your target audience. The second rule should be a no-brainer: don’t actively offend them. Somewhere on the way to being creative Bloomberg Businessweek advertisers seem to have forgotten rule number two. In a “funny if it didn’t happen to you” subscription campaign, the Bloomberg affiliate encourages parents, friends and family members of Millennials to send the young workforce a pithy e-card and a 12-month subscription to Businessweek. Problem is, the e-cards appeared more pithy to the givers than to the intended recipients. What I find particularly odd about this campaign is that… Read More
Categories: Advertising, Generations, Recession EconomySocial commentary about Gen Xers and Millennials frequently point out the somewhat recent phenomena of “participation trophies” in youth sports – there may be a winner, but everyone takes home a trophy just for showing up. When those hyper-celebrated kids began entering the workforce they – and their bosses – were in for a rude awakening. Just showing up simply doesn’t impress. So what might we be able to predict about the next generation in the workforce based on their youth sports tendencies today? The fall-out of the hyper-celebrated child is the hyper-specialized athlete. If everyone is awesome, how is… Read More
Categories: Parenting