Crossing the Generational Divide: 5 Different Generations Work Side-by-Side -- and They Like It

An Addison Group study recently polled 1,000 full- and part-time U.S. employees to characterize intergenerational workforces, according to TechRepublic . Most employees in different age ranges were found to generally work well together, with workers in older ranges most appreciative of Generation Z and millennials' familiarity with technology. Generation X is most valued for their work ethic, and baby boomers for their leadership. Both Gen X and boomers consider the type of work they perform as most important to them personally, with salary rated as their second most important consideration. Gen Z respondents said work-life balance and salary were among their most important motivators, as did millennials. Rising college tuition debt is the most likely driver of these latter generations' salary prioritization. Meanwhile, boomers — unlike Gen X, Gen Z, and millennials — had more women than men negotiate their salaries throughout last year, adding urgency to Addison Group's call that this generation help younger ones to fairly negotiate pay in their companies. The report listed four employer strategies to ensure generational cohesion in the workplace: listening to worker feedback; open and transparent communication; intergenerational mentoring; and, finally, partnerships with recruiting firms to smooth leadership transitions.