What are the advantages of hiring a multigenerational workforce?
When many people think of diversity within the workplace what often first comes to mind is hiring employees of a different race, gender, or ethnicity. You are also able to achieve a richly diverse workforce by hiring employees from various age groupings.
Not only does multigenerational hiring enrich the work environment, it also provides a wider range of knowledge, skills, creativity, perspectives and work styles. With a broad range of employee ages working within your small business you get years of experience and maturity along with youthful enthusiasm.
A 2017 survey report was presented by Bridgeworks during SCORE national's virtual conference in March 2017 on "connecting with generational segments in the workforce." It produced key learnings that can be of benefit to your small business as it brings on new employees during its interviewing and hiring practice. Robust diversity and inclusion programs or initiatives are going to be critical in attracting and engaging Generation Z workers. Work-life balance continues to be very important for the millennial generation who also value working in a collaborative way with other employees. Financial instability is of primary concern for both millennials and Gen Z employees.
While generalizations don't hold true for all individuals, there are some common personality traits and behaviors within each of the generational age categories.
• Traditionalists (born before 1946): These employees hold respect for authority and have a desire to preserve traditions, follow rules and enjoy a long term career. They value teamwork and are task-oriented.
• Baby Boomers (born 1946 - 1964): These individuals are resourceful and disciplined. They typically exhibit a strong work ethic and drive to achieve goals. They enjoy the ability to shine and be a star.
• Generation Xers (born 1965 - 1976): These self-sufficient workers are usually versatile and receptive to learning new skills while accepting of difficult challenges. They have a good grasp on using technology.
• Millennials (born 1977 - 1995): Employees in this age group are known for bringing a collaborative attitude and strong technology skills to the table. They tend to value openness of communication and candor. They have a very keen interest in advancing in their careers and shy away from boring jobs.
• Gen "Z" or Edger's (born after 1995): These individuals have strong self-reliance instincts. As early technology adopters they aren't afraid of trying new approaches for fear of failure. They are aware that face-to-face communication will be a challenge so training geared toward building soft skills is important.
What can your small business gain from hiring inter-generationally?
The diversity in abilities and attitudes among employees of different age groups can create a more dynamic atmosphere within your small business environment. With a healthy mix of traditional approaches and innovative thinking, you can strike a successful balance without becoming frozen in your ways or too far out of the box. Across your sales and customer service efforts to your product & services development and operational processes, having diversity can help you better recognize deficiencies and make improvements to your business by tapping the unique ideas and frames of reference within your team.
Remember that during all your interviewing and hiring efforts you need to follow all the applicable federal, state and local anti-discrimination and labor laws. To understand the requirements, consider talking with a human resources consultant and/or an attorney.
• Fox Valley SCORE provides free confidential mentoring to clients in 17 locations throughout DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, McHenry and Will counties. If you need help with existing business challenges, or are thinking about starting a new business, visit our website and click the red "Book Now" button. You can also click on "Workshops & Events" to register for one of the many free workshops throughout the year. The website is foxvalley.score.org.