Remote Work Technology

CHAPTER 9Generational Struggles

We live in a time in which several generations interact within the workforce. In this chapter we discuss some of the traits of this generational workforce and we will discuss the way these generations work as part of a newly distributed team. In a time of crisis or abrupt change, people from diverse generations may react differently to the circumstances based on their world view and what they value in both their personal and professional lives. I want to be clear that it is important that we do not make assumptions that people within any specific generation will all act in a particular way when faced with the same situations. That thought process leads to stereotyping and use of blanket terms, which we should avoid.

Humans are far more complex than simply being a product of their generation. However, members of each generation share commonalities of world events that impacted their youth, which have a level of influence on their outlooks. Additionally, the current age and stage of life will shape the view of what is important to an individual in terms of their personal lives and careers. A 20-year-old person will most likely have dissimilar criteria for job searches and be at a different point in their career path than a 50-year-old person in the same industry. Although we will be speaking in general terms about the generations, it’s important to keep in mind that as unique individuals, your employees won't all react in the same ways as others ...