Over the past decade or so, we’ve seen a shift in the
workforce as retirees stay on longer, and younger workers bring new skill sets
to the table. Having three—and sometimes four—generations working together can
often cause conflict. So how do you keep the peace while reaping the benefits
that each group brings?
In order to answer these questions, I turned to HR speaker
and author Lori Kleiman, who helps business owners solve these types of
problems on a daily basis. “The first thing to realize is that
multigenerational staffs are happening in the workplace today, and it’s not
going away," says Kleiman. "In fact, it’s only going to increase.”
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| Lori Kleiman |
Pizzerias, especially, are ideal locations for a
multigenerational staff. “Pizzerias are attractive to both retirees and students,”
says Kleiman. “Traditional retirees are leaving corporate jobs and looking for
something to do; this is a great pool of talent for pizzerias to draw from.
Additionally, younger workers bring skills in technology, social media and
multitasking to the table.” Kleiman says there’s a lot that each generation
can learn from one other, including technology, work ethic, and more.
As with any staff, friction can develop between the
generations. The key is to keep the lines of communication flowing, making it
clear to all employees what is acceptable, and what is not (i.e., texting
during meetings), according to Kleiman. Ultimately, staff members will learn
to rely on each other and be more accepting of their coworkers.
Since the beginning of time, coworkers have struggled to get
along. A multigenerational workforce adds a new element to that equation, but
one that should be embraced as an opportunity to strengthen your staff as well
as your businesses.
Bonus Tip: With
so many people—young and old—using social
media, Kleiman says it’s more important than ever to have a written social
media policy stating what staff members can and can’t post online about your
business.
For more extensive information and statistics on
multigenerational workforces, check out this in-depth paper written by Lee
Hecht Harrison: Managing Today’s Multigenerational Workforce
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