HR professionals know that classifying people by age can lead to trouble regardless of intentions. However, it is occasionally useful to look at what the experience of different generations in the workplace is. One recent study found that there was some undeniable conflict between the generations that spills over into the workplace.
The study was conducted by Olivet Nazarene University and polled 1,005 participants between the ages of 24 and 30 and another 1,025 participants between the ages of 56 and 74. It aimed to understand the differences in how various generations act in the workplace, especially when it comes to their perceptions of each other versus the reality.
Loyalty: Not What It Seems
Boomers and Millennials were asked how loyal they thought their compatriots were to their company. Ninety-one percent of Millennials said they believed Boomers to be loyal. Only 60% of Boomers said the same thing about Millennials. And while the difference in their perceptions of each other is high, the reality of the situation did not bear out that difference. Eighty-four percent of Millennials and 75% of Boomers said they would leave their organization if they were paid more.
The research also found that 33% of Millennials and 39% of Boomers planned to leave their current jobs within half a year. When it dug a little deeper to find out why, both Millennials and Boomers had similar priorities, as seen in this table:
| Why they are planning to leave | Millennials | Boomers |
| To make more money | 38% | 29% |
| To advance career | 28% | 30% |
| To escape a toxic work environment | 20% | 27% |
| To find passion-driven work | 11% | 9% |
Pay a Major Concern
Organizations make a big deal of the various benefits and resources they use to keep their employees, but base pay has always been king, and that is still true today. In fact, only 53% of Millennials said they were satisfied with their current pay, and 84% of them said they would leave their job for more money. Boomers were more satisfied with their pay, with 71% saying so. However, 75% of them said they would leave their job for money, as well.
When it comes to asking for a raise, Boomers were more likely to do so within the last year, with 49% reporting that they had versus only 39% of Millennials. Interestingly, both Millennials (58%) and Boomers (59%) were as hesitant to ask for said raise.
Pointing Fingers
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs suggests that we all share the same needs and motivations. Different positions can drive different expressions of those motivations. For example, a more established leader has the same desire to be respected as a new employee. How each approaches earning and maintaining that respect, however, looks very different from those two positions. This can create the belief that there are generational differences when they might, instead, just be positional differences.
Additionally, varying perceptions of other generations can also create the illusion of a difference among those generations, reinforcing stereotypes and creating real problems in the workforce. This study brought a lot of those perceptions to the surface, as well as their relative problems. For example, the study found that 24% have quit because of an older supervisor or colleague. Meanwhile, 33% of Boomers have left their jobs because of a Millennial colleague. Those are some fairly large sources of turnover that stem from perceptions.
And when it comes to perceptions and stereotypes, the report found there were plenty to go around on all sides. For example, Boomers found smartphone use by Millennials (48%), a sense of entitlement (41%), and laziness (35%) to be the traits that annoy them the most. Millennials, on the other hand, found “know it all” attitudes (52%), a sense of entitlement (47%), and egos (34%) to be Boomers’ most irritating aspects.
They Stop Me from Advancing (Say Millennials)
Probably the most damaging perception on Millennials’ part is the belief that Boomer colleagues are preventing them from advancing. Thirty percent said they felt this way, and when asked why, they said:
| Taking credit for Millennials’ work | 36% |
| Unfairly placing blame on Millennials | 35% |
| Stealing Millennials’ ideas | 32% |
| Competitive in an unproductive way | 31% |
| Not listening to Millennials’ ideas | 31% |
All of those concerns are very serious, and it’s obvious how those perceptions could create real problems in the workplace.
I’m Afraid They’ll Replace Me (Say Boomers)
When asked if they were afraid a Millennial colleague would take their job, 51% of Boomers said yes. When asked why, they gave the following reasons:
| Ability to adapt more quickly | 34% |
| More technology-savvy | 30% |
| Ambition | 22% |
| Cost-cutting reasons | 12% |
| Other | 2% |
Just like the concerns of Millennials, you can see why Boomers would be worried based on these perceptions.
Work Preferences Nearly Identical Across Generations
For all their finger-pointing and hand-wringing, the various generations really do have the same desires about how they want to work. Just take a look at what both generations want their workday to look like:
| What type of workday do you prefer? | Millennials | Boomers |
| 9–5 | 30% | 30% |
| Remote work | 17% | 19% |
| 4-day week | 24% | 26% |
| Flexible scheduling | 21% | 21% |
| Other | 8% | 5% |
Final Thoughts
Did you get upset while reading this report? I know I did. Odds are it made you think about how you feel about other generations. Whether it’s those pesky kids on their phones or those Boomers who refuse to retire, age is just an excuse to find problems with others. When asked what they care about, most people say they want the same things. They want to be healthy and safe. They want to belong and be respected. And they want to improve themselves.
So next time you want to point the finger at the other generation, take a breath and remember that they are just people, like you and me. It is not their age that makes the problem but rather the perception of difference between them.
You can find more information about the study here.