Does Your Generation of Origin Matter?
In today’s fast-paced work environment, older generations often find themselves struggling to keep up with the relentless pace expected by employers. Due to a number of factors, the modern workplace has five generations of people working side-by-side. There are differences that come with age and experience. No reasonable person would say that nothing changes as you age. Things do change. That is true for all of us.
Older individuals first entered the workforce at a time when the pace of work was more measured, and the tools were far less advanced. There were employers throughout history who treated their employees poorly, having no concern for their wellness. Today, it is more common to hear about workplace expectations causing mental health and even physical problems. The whistle has been blown. There is no shortage of information from doctors, therapists and other expects connecting the dots between workplace stress and symptoms of those affected.
How are the different generations handling changing work environments? You don’t have to do much research to find information on that topic. The rapid evolution of technology has created a significant gap, where older employees may feel overwhelmed by the constant need to adapt to new systems, software, and processes. This is not only true in the workplace. It is also true at home. Many employees who are part of the younger generations are not happy about unreasonable workplace expectations, either.
Wasn’t technology supposed to make everyone’s lives easier?
This expectation to maintain an unreasonably fast pace can lead to stress, burnout, and a sense of inadequacy among older workers. Even younger workers can tire from unreasonable demands that technology brings with it. The difference in younger and older generations meeting fast-paced workplace expectations should be obvious.
Younger generations have the distinct advantage of being raised in a digital age.
At a time when their personalities were being formed, many were exposed to computers, smartphones, gaming and the internet. Navigating the complexities of modern technology is second nature for many of them. Employers see them moving quickly and efficiently in the workplace, often outpacing their older colleagues. Older office professionals can feel as though their job has become more of production-line environment than a place where quality of service still matters. Being pushed so hard so fast can overwhelm even the most capable employee.
Many older generation employees feel that their years of experience and valuable skills have been overshadowed by the demand for speed and technological proficiency. This is true even though the result of a too-fast work pace is often work product littered with errors. The difference in customer service today and broadly, work ethic, should be concerning.
Anyone raised with digital tools and processes is going to have a distinct advantage in many modern jobs. The natural ease with which many younger employees can adapt to new technological advancements gives them a competitive edge. They can meet the high expectations of today’s employers with relative ease. Placing the same expectations on older generations seems unreasonable.
Would you stand over your grandmother’s shoulder and insist she use your shortcuts on the keyboard, or tell her she’s moving too slow? “Speed it up, Gramma. I don’t have all day.” It’s an unkind way to treat the aging population.
If you are from a younger generation, don’t imagine that everyone older wants to be working at that age. Many of them feel forced to work much longer than they had planned for various reasons, including insanely high costs of living.
On top of not knowing how they will be able to afford their final years of life, they are expected to keep pace with people 30 years younger.
The disparity between older and younger generations has always created tension, broadly speaking. The difference today is that the technology younger people grew up with is used for almost everything. You would not expect a non-athlete to keep pace with someone who has been running marathons since they were young, yet that is what is happening. It’s no wonder older employees feel undervalued and overwhelmed – pressed on every side.
It is essential for organizations to recognize these differences. They are real. Employers have a unique advantage today because of technologies. Along with the potential for a broader reach, they must foster an inclusive environment. The work environment needs to value the contributions of all employees. Inclusivity does not just mean one or two people groups or a select few minority groups. It means everyone, including people who are part of an aging workforce.
By providing adequate training and support, employers can help bridge the gap to ensure that older generations are not left behind in the race to keep up with the demands of the modern workplace. Older people have a lot of life lessons behind them and can contribute a great deal of value in the workplace but they need to be heard.
Technology has its place. No doubt it benefits humanity in many ways. It can also have negative consequences which are becoming more evident with the passing of time. Digital technology should not create further divisions of generations, replace good work ethics or be used to justify unhealthy expectations for what ordinary humans can reasonably accomplish in one workday.
Copyright 2024, Jana Brock. All Rights Reserved.
What a fantastic post, I truly enjoyed reading it. Your way of writing is very engaging and your opinions are spot on. Keep up the fantastic work!
Thank you, I appreciate you!