Multigenerational Workforce: Are We Using the Literature Effectively?

Abstract

There has been a lot of attention paid to the multigenerational work force in the nursing media over the last 10 years. Typical articles discuss the 4 categories of workers as determined by the year they were born. The 4 groups and their birth years include are as follows: Veterans, 1925-1945; Baby Boomers, 19461964; Generation X, 1965-1980; and Millennial Generation, 1981-2000. This breakout is explained as different generations related to the circumstances faced by these nurses during their formidable years. Many articles present a discussion and graph about the differences between the generations related to their styles and behaviors and what nurses should know about working within a multigenerational environment. Each of these articles does provide a perspective about the individual generation related to their behaviors, motivation, and styles of communication, thereby explaining what strategies may be effective in communicating with, leading, or working with members in each group. Although the groups of generations and the analysis provided are of course a generalization, many of us can relate, given our previous observations or interactions with individuals from the different generational groups. However, are we using this information about multigenerational workforces to provide a better workplace or to be better leaders? This topic makes me think about when I was in grade school, sitting around the kitchen table with 3 generations of nurses (with me as the next generation to follow), listening to their stories of caring, conflict, and resolve. More importantly, it reminds me of the things that were not said and the way my family members from the different generations treated each other. Most times, they were respectful of each other. The innuendo of “she’s just a kid” from my grandmother to my mother and “she’ ss o out of touch” from my mother to my great grandmother was just as tell