Workplace experts have long touted the benefits of multigenerational diversity, especially when it comes to bringing new perspectives to workplace issues and driving innovation. This aspect of multigenerational workplaces is often overlooked, since most of the conversations about specific generations in the workplace tend to zero in on Generation Z employees these days — just as previous conversations needled millennials before.
Still, research continues to show how people of all generations fit into the ensemble cast of the world of work. A report from the Mather Institute earlier this year highlighted how Generation X can be crucial in bridging generational gaps in the workplace. Engagement issues for this generation, as well as baby boomers, aren’t as dire as they are for younger workers, according to a January Gallup report.
These generations also tend to be more optimistic: A different Gallup report from last month suggested that 33% of Gen Xers and 42% of baby boomers feel that now is a “good time” for job hunting, whereas their younger colleagues were much more pessimistic.
Read on to learn more about where the generations converge and diverge when it comes to their attitudes about work.
