Generational Differences Education: The First Step To Motivate Employees And Increase Retention

For the first time ever, there are four generations in the workplace. From oldest to youngest they are Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y, who are people under age 31. Generational differences are the values, attitudes and beliefs of each generation, shaped by what each group learned from formative events in their young lives. Much like "bad habits", they can stay with us a lifetime and are often difficult to change. I call them generational differences because they can cause a lot of tension at work.

Here are 3 basic facts every business person should know about generational differences.

Fact #1 Generational differences cause frustration in the workplace. As I talk with people in my community, I find that many do not know about generational differences. They don't realize how they simmer in a "slow boil" just below the "pot-lid surface" of control, and can boil over at any time. This slow boil effects company teamwork, employee motivation and productivity.

Fact #2 Business owners and managers today are most susceptible to a build-up of employee frustration. Seventy per cent of business leaders, owners and managers today are Traditionalists and Baby Boomers. They may have higher levels of "simmering frustration" when they manage the youngest employees today because of a greater gap in their values, attitudes and beliefs. The gap is not simply more years between them but rapidly changing technology and faster, cheaper communications - things that have changed how we live everyday and most importantly, how business is done.

Fact #3 Generational differences threaten employee retention. Costs for continual hiring and training of new employees are one of the most significant, avoidable costs for most companies. According to Dr. Joanne Sujansky, it costs as much as 50% of an overall salary to replace employees every time they leave. And, 30% of Gen Yers are expected to have 7 jobs while in their twenties.

If you are a business owner or boss, feeling that 'slow-boiling simmer' of employee frustration, you are not alone. This concern is so great among business today that 59% of Human Resource professionals report that they will train line managers in 2011 on how to resolve generational differences.

What can you do about frustration and lost employee retention from generational differences?

Perhaps you have thought about "not hiring" Gen Y to save yourself frustration and expense. If that is the case, then think again. An aging workforce, declining birthrates, the need for tech skills and knowledge workers, and loss of leadership all indicate that you will probably need to hire younger workers some time in the near future.

Here is what you must do to clear frustration and motivate employees to stay.

Give your self and all of your employees training in generational differences specific to describing why generations are different, how to mentor Gen Y, and how to create working teams that compliment differences. Benefits include reduced employee frustration and turnover and increased motivation and retention. In our stalled economy today, there is no better time to prepare for a profitable future by teaching your employees about generational differences.

And, when you educate yourself and your employees about generational differences, your company will get the benefit of motivating employees and increasing employee retention.