CASE STUDIES

THE GENERATIONS' GAP?

Although the workplace may look peaceful, Steff Gelston believes that generational tensions are simmering among many employees and threaten to lower morale, increase turnover, and reduce productivity. As Jim Lanzalotto, vice president of strategy and markeing for Yoh, explains, “One of the biggest struggles companies have is with people who are not playing well in the sandbox. And it's more pervasive when we talk about the situation we have between the generations.”

Traditionalists were born between 1900 and 1945 and tend to accept a command and control style because this was the style they grew up with and seemed to be effective, especially during World War II. The Baby Boomers were born between 1945 and 1960; however, this generation witnessed the Vietnam War and Watergate. Subsequently, the Baby Boomers tend to view authority with suspicion so they are more distrustful of command-and-control hierarchies. However, according to Jacquelyn Barretta, they still accept a chain of command in the workplace.