The Gap Between Millennials and Generation X at Work

Today, diversity can be encountered everywhere we go. We are all unique individuals with specific preferences and tastes. Plus, each one of us is part of a generation that has its own view of the world that makes daily interactions even more interesting. This gap between generations is very recognizable in families and at work- the two focus points in our lives that are the most important spaces where we spend our time.

Specialists call this generational diversity, and it is at the core of any social organization, be it entrepreneurial or personal. Therefore, we can’t run away from it – over the course of our lives, we will probably work with people from different generations and encounter different behaviors that we don’t know how to tackle, just because they are so different from our perceptions. However, for a healthy work environment, it’s really important to accept these differences and learn to address the generational gap at work.

Demographically speaking, in the work field today, two main generations share the office, and many companies wonder how to fill in the gap and have the teams of Millennials and Generation X work well. There is an undeniable gap between the two generations that should be first understood and then addressed. So, let’s see how these generations are different from each other.

Generation X

Generation X comprises of people born between 1965 and 1980, who started their careers in an economy that did not have much to offer. With fewer job openings than the generation of their parents, generation X needed to adapt to a harsher environment. Plus, the divorce rate started to grow, which made early responsibility their priority. Many members of Generation X did not have the chance to do what they dreamed of, and they also had to adapt their values to the specific market at the time.

Generation Y (The Millennials)

Millennials are the ones who were born between the 1980s and 2000s and grew up in a world that was just discovering technology and the internet; therefore, they were the first generation to adapt to the new technological era from a young age. By the time they hit the working age, the global financial crisis had changed the work environment in many parts of the world. So, they had to work in an ever-changing, dynamic and unstable environment.

The Balance Between Work and Life

Both generations equally cherish the work-life balance, but they have their own perspective to it. Generation X values the classic 9 to 5 schedule and doesn’t usually accept to work extra hours. Sometimes, this is actually a deal breaker for Gen X workers. While the people from Generation X strive for their work-life balance, Millennials just demand it and include it in their career choices. Generation Y is actually more open with its schedule as long as they can work flexible hours, telecommute and have many relaxation opportunities.

Aspirations of The Two Generations (Promotions And Progress)

Generation X and Generation Y have different views on promotions and progress at work. While Gen X believes that the big promotions come from expertise, experience, and hard work for many years, Gen Y is way more confident that big promotions don’t just come to those who wait and work hard but also to those who are very good at what they do. Gen X believes that promotions must be earned through a longer period of time and that you must earn your place at the table. Gen Y is more restless and impatient when it comes to progress at work because they think that lack of experience is not much of a drawback.

How Do the Two Generations Work?

As expected, the two generations have different working styles as well. The reason is simple – they belong to two different technological and communication eras and have learned to behave differently. For example, generation X values more the time spent face to face in the workspace, while Millennials are more digital and can consider two hours of conference calls as an entire workday.

Gen X and Gen Y have different views on hierarchy as well. While Generation X believes that the boss is more than a boss, believe “boss” is a symbol of authority and that the “step-by-step” power structure is what they should follow to get ahead in their career. Millennials, on the other hand, think that the “flat hierarchy” is better. What does that mean? Flat hierarchy promotes less authority and has the executives, directors, and managers as colleagues. Bosses become mentors for Millennials who need acknowledgment and feedback from their manager.

Similarly, Generation X uses technology to ease their work life, while Millennials have adopted technology as part of their lifestyle.

Team Players

Both Generation X and Generation Y are team players that value team spirit and like to work together with their colleagues to create extraordinary things. However, the difference is in how they view it. Generation X is more independent and likes to bring their contribution to the project in their own style (usually working independently). On the opposite pole, Millennials like to work with their teams, but have a more technological approach – they use group chats, teleconferencing, cloud sharing and other new technologies to make communication between them and their colleagues easier. Millennials want to be heard and valued in a team and can work in various types of teams as well.

In the end, we have two different generations that largely behave the same in any part of the world. We have the digital natives that form Generation Y and Generation X that likes to play by the rules. Both these generations are important for any workforce today. Generational diversity affects work dynamics in a company, and that’s why this gap should be filled with patience and with the acknowledgment that not everyone is the same and that people expect different things from a workplace. A company should try to meet the needs of employers and fulfill their desires as much as possible. Understanding generational differences will help create a better workplace where employees can be more productive and happy.

Here are some other interesting articles you should check out:

・The Most Popular Credit Cards for Millennials in Singapore 2018

・Top 10 Jobs That Millennials Want to Get

・The Friction Between Millennials and Baby Boomers in The Workplace in Singapore 2018

(By Taha Khan)

Related Articles
- Getting Inter-Generational Wealth Transfers right
- The worst money mistakes millennials should avoid
- Do millennials really prefer online shopping?