From baby boomers to Generation Z, multi-generational workplaces are becoming more common and organisations are benefitting from each generation’s varying skills and motivations
When septuagenarian songster Rod Stewart took to the stage in Dublin’s 3 Arena earlier this month, his act was an advertisement for the multi-generational workforce. With a backing band and road crew including the complete alphabet soup of recent generations as well baby boomers and even older, the event was a live demonstration of the different age groups literally working in harmony.
While Generation Z, those born in the new century, are now coming into the workforce, their predecessor generation is taking over command. “The millennials are now becoming the managers,” says D’Arcy. “We didn’t really understand them when they were graduates and we still don’t, now that they are managers. By 2025, 75 per cent of the workforce will be millennials.”
I think the multi-generational workplace is a great thing. All the generations can learn from each other One way of bringing the generations together is through what has become known as reverse mentorship. “Older and more mature workers bring more experience and a more mature approach to customer engagement, for example,” explains Donnery. “Younger people bring new ideas and innovation and different things to the table. They both have things to teach each other. It might be nothing to do with technology.