The Workplace is No Place for a Generational Divide

The Workplace is No Place for a in richtungerational DivideWork is No Place for a Generational DivideThe Workplace is No Place for a Generational DivideI once read a controversial blog postthat was likely intended to rile readers more than make a point. The idea the writer wanted to force feed to older readers was that any work task they can do, the 20-something members of Gen Y (Millennials) can do better.The post riled up enough people that more than 200 readers registered comments in a matter of days. Taken as a whole, they werent pretty.The writer made the following assertionsGen Y is more productive because they can gather information faster.Gen Y is better at communicating.Gen Y has better career mobility (i.e., theyre more adept at job hopping) while Baby Boomers arent as comfortable with it.Gen Y turns to entrepreneurship when the going gets tough in the job market, even if it means moving back home with their Baby Boomer parents.Well, Ill add my comment to all this right her e What a load of generalized, stereotypical horse dungIf it were taken as fact, then - what the heck - lets stop the world from spinning and kick all the Boomers into orbit Work will be so much better for everyone with staff flitting around from job to job, everyone conducting job interviews via email or texting, and giving birth to lots of new small companies while their CEOs text mom and dad with their stellar communication skills YO RENTS WENZ DINR 2NITE? (Of course, itll be hard for the rents to respond since theyll be floating somewhere above the ozone layer.)Cant we all just get along? Our society is polarized enough with political viewpoints. We dont need to feel segregated and polarized in the workplace as well. For instance, the writer boasts of Gen Ys superior command of technology, as if Gen Xers and Boomers scream in horror every time they see a laptop or an iPhone. Puh-leeze...they were the users as well as the inventors of the first computersIf only the generational di vide were that clear-cut. But its not. While Ive seen Millennials who are not as addicted to technology as others, Ive also seen Gen Xers and Boomers who are as technologically with it, if not even more so. The better homilie should be how each generation can learn from the others. So, heres how I would rewrite those four assertionsGen Y is more adept at using information technology, and can teach their older colleagues how to use it better.Gen Y can communicate, but communication can only be effective if you can be clear with everyone, no matter how old they are. At the same time, Boomers can communicate the wisdom of work that comes with age and experience.Gen Y may have better career mobility now, but when they settle down and start families as they age, theyll want more stability - just like their parents do today.When the going gets tough in the job market, you do what you gotta do, even it means starting your own business. Just be sure you can pay the rent or mortgage while yo ure in the startup phase.