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- the multi-gen mixup 🤹♀️
the multi-gen mixup 🤹♀️
turning age diversity into your team's superpower
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Happy Thursday HR friends!👋
In Monday’s edition we looked at some of the recruiting challenges in attracting talent from different generations. Today is part 2 and we’re pondering (once we’ve made the hires) how can we effectively manage a multi-generational workplace?🧠
Before we jump in, a quick reminder that today’s sponsor CodePath are running a great webinar series starting next Thursday where recruiters and HR pros can learn from students about how Gen Z actually search and apply for jobs.
You can register now to join live (with a surprise gift) 🎁, or get the recording.
Psst, do you have a job opening or something else cool to share with 24,000 HR professionals? You can read more here on how we can help you do just that!
Have a great rest of the week team, and we’ll have more HR inspiration for your inbox on Monday!
In Today’s Edition
🤝 Managing Across Generations: The Daily Reality
🛋️ The Break Room: Real Talk on Gen-Z to Boomers - What's Working & What's Not
📚 Human Readsources: Hilton's employee travel program benefits everyone involved, Spotify conducts company-wide culture alignment check-in, Employee data breaches hit six-year record high.
It all starts with communication…
Did you know that 76% of employees report experiencing conflict with colleagues from different generations, with communication style differences being the number one trigger? The modern workplace has become a complex tapestry of up to five generations working side by side, each bringing their own communication preferences, work styles, and values to the table.
This generational diversity presents both an opportunity and a challenge for organizations. While diverse teams consistently outperform homogeneous ones by up to 35%, the potential for misunderstanding and conflict can derail productivity and innovation if not properly managed. Psst, this is where we come in HR peeps...
We find ourselves at the epicenter of this generational convergence. Aka the eye of the storm. We're tasked with transforming potential friction points into opportunities for collaboration and growth. Their role has evolved from traditional personnel management to becoming strategic architects of inclusive, multi-generational workplace cultures. Whew, that next vacation can't come soon enough?!
Presented by
Gen Z vs. Recruiters: Who's winning the AI battle?
“I have an AI that automatically applies to 1500 jobs and got me 50 interviews."
While platforms race to add AI features, Gen Z candidates are already ahead—using AI tools to hack the job hunt.
Join the kickoff of our new “Students vs. Recruiters” webinar series on April 24, where we’ll unpack how candidates are really using AI, what it means for your pipeline, and how to evaluate skills when it’s robots vs. robots.
Register now to join live (with a surprise gift) 🎁, or get the recording.
🤝 Managing Across Generations: The Daily Reality
Managing five generations isn't just about different music tastes and technology preferences. It's about navigating a workplace where a Gen Z employee might roll their eyes at a Baby Boomer's email etiquette, while your Gen X manager wonders why Millennials keep pushing for more flexible schedules.
These daily friction points can either drain your company's energy or help spark some ideas in creating a workplace that gets the best out of the whole team!
Research shows that organizations with strong cross-generational mentoring programs see a 37% higher retention rate compared to those without. Why?
Because when you pair different generations intentionally, you're not just transferring knowledge - you're building bridges and breaking down those "OK Boomer" barriers.
The key to success is implementing flexible communication channels. Stop forcing everyone into the same box.
Let some have their detailed emails, while giving Gen Z their quick Slack updates. Create a communication matrix that respects everyone's preferences while ensuring no important messages get lost in translation.
And remember - the goal isn't to make everyone communicate the same way, but to create understanding around why different styles exist and how to make them work together.
🔗 Relevant links
👀 TLDR
Turn those differences into your competitive advantage. Mix up your communication channels, embrace flexible work styles, and get those cross-gen mentoring programs going.
⚡ Takeaway and Try
- 💬 Create a "Communication Preference Directory" by surveying all employees about their preferred communication channels for different types of messages (urgent updates, routine information, feedback sessions). Build a shared database accessible to all managers, ensuring messages reach team members through their optimal channels. Track reduced response times and decreased instances of missed communications.
- 🤝 Launch a "Cross-Generational Buddy Program" pairing employees from different age groups for monthly knowledge exchange sessions. This builds mutual understanding, reduces age bias, and leverages diverse perspectives. Create structured discussion guides, track participation rates, and measure improvements in cross-generational collaboration scores through quarterly surveys.
- 👥 Implement "Generation Bridge" team projects where mixed-age groups tackle business challenges together. This harnesses diverse viewpoints while breaking down age-related silos. Assign quarterly projects with clear deliverables, monitor team dynamics, and evaluate both project outcomes and participant feedback on intergenerational collaboration.
- 📚 Create a "Reverse Mentoring Registry" where younger employees can share digital skills while experienced staff offer industry insights. This accelerates knowledge transfer and promotes mutual respect. Set up a formal matching process, provide conversation frameworks, and track both skill acquisition metrics and mentorship satisfaction rates.
☕ The Break Room: What's Your Take?
What's your biggest challenge in managing multiple generations at work? |
📚 Human Readsources
🏢 Hilton's Employee Travel Program Drives Revenue, Retention Success (HR Brew) - Hilton's employee travel program boosts revenue and worker satisfaction.
⚖️ Spotify Launches Culture Check-in to Realign Values (HR Grapevine) - Spotify launches company-wide culture assessment to align employee values.
📊 Employee Data Breaches Hit Six-Year High in 2024 (HR Grapevine) - Employee data breaches surge 14%, phishing attacks rise significantly.
Thanks for reading to the end and we hope today’s edition sparked some new ideas for your workplace! 🧠
We know you’re super busy and really appreciate you letting us into your inbox a few times a week. 😀
On a scale of 1 to HR, how much do you like this edition? |
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