Exploring Challenges Faced by Managers Dealing with Multi-Generational Workforce

Abstract

Hive Digital Media has a diverse employee workforce with employees from different generations. The management team is struggling to motivate the employees, instruct employees to perform tasks adequately and consistently and have seen an increase in employee turnover. This study aimed to explore the challenges managers facing when dealing with multi-generational workforce. Qualitative research was conducted among managers to understand how they manage multi-generational workforce. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. One-on-one in-depth interview was conducted virtually, and open-ended questions were used to collect the data. The study found that managers should understand the different generations and their personalities as a base. Managers must then take the time to identify each employee as an individual person and what the need, wants and goals are of each employee. By managers upskilling themselves with knowledge on the different generations, they can equip themselves with the tools they need to solve the challenges successfully. Managers need to make a concerted effort to make time for communication and getting to know each individual employee. Using the information on the different generations as a base but gaining in-depth information on employees. It could be concluded that although it is important to understand the different generations, personalities need to be managed and categorising or stereotyping employees into generation groups needs to be avoided.