Skip to content

How to Manage a Multigenerational Workforce

Every generation thinks the one that follows it knows everything, is lazy and disrespectful. In the workplace, these perceptions are magnified. And yet, managers must cope with the idiosyncrasies and quirks of up to four generations in the workplace (Gen Z, Gen Y or Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers).

It’s this last group that perhaps has the greatest focus – for good reason. It has been well documented that it is an economic imperative for Australian businesses to keep people working well past the traditional retirement age of 65 for men and 60 for women. As far back as 2003, the then Prime Minister John Howard made a compelling case for business leaders to embrace the merits of older workers to create a multigenerational workforce, going so far as to suggest 70 could be the new retirement age.

Yet keeping Baby Boomers engaged is just the tip of the multigenerational challenge. With an age gap of nearly 50 years between the oldest and youngest employees in some organisations, there is a broad range of perspectives, needs and attitudes floating around the office. Over the following pages Adecco provides tips for managing this diverse workforce – a workforce where, hopefully, the sum is far greater than its multigenerational parts.

Let’s be blunt. Some turnover is fine, even necessary: fresh blood, new perspectives, new ideas. However, when high-performing employees are walking out the door, business leaders need to be aware of the unique causes of staff turnover in their organisation and industry. Armed with this knowledge, a retention strategy can be developed to set relevant and achievable targets.

While most organisations have acknowledged the importance of age diversity in their ranks, employees may not be quite so enthusiastic. One report* indicates that younger workers find it more difficult to cope with age diversity than their older counterparts. Researchers found that 16% of those aged 16- 34 felt their older managers were out of touch with modern trends and a further 15% said older workers were resistant to change.

However, mature workers didn’t feel the same way – and were in fact generous in their assessment of younger workers. An overwhelming 94% of older workers said they thought younger generations were armed with the skills to be successful in their role.

Download the whitepaper for tips on managing a diverse workforce where the sum is far greater than its multigenerational parts.

 

How to Manage a Multigenerational Workforce

A banner at the bottom of a blog promoting the whitepaper “How to Manage a Multigenerational Workforce.” The left side features a red angled design with the text: “How to Manage a Multigenerational Workforce – download now.” The right side displays the cover of the whitepaper, which includes an image of an older woman.

Latest news and insights

#INSIGHTS

Posted 20 Nov 2024
What is the true impact of AI at work?

From geopolitical tensions to the energy transition, the world of work is facing unprecedented challenges. Key megatrends are shaping the…

Read More
Smiling Black designer posing confidently in their dressmaking studio or boutique.

#INSIGHTS

Posted 11 Nov 2024
What to Wear to an Interview—and Beyond! Embracing Modern Workplace Dress Codes

In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, deciding what to wear can be tricky—whether for a job interview or your day-to-day role….

Read More
Team of engineers examining a 3D-printed object in a modern tech lab.

#INSIGHTS

Posted 29 Oct 2024
6 Critical Ways to Future-proof Your Workforce For The Tech Revolution in Manufacturing

Automation, AI and robotics are reshaping the manufacturing industry. In the midst of the evolution to ‘Industry 4.0’, any business…

Read More

#INSIGHTS

Posted 20 Nov 2024
What is the true impact of AI at work?

From geopolitical tensions to the energy transition, the world of work is facing unprecedented challenges. Key megatrends are shaping the…

Read More
Smiling Black designer posing confidently in their dressmaking studio or boutique.

#INSIGHTS

Posted 11 Nov 2024
What to Wear to an Interview—and Beyond! Embracing Modern Workplace Dress Codes

In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, deciding what to wear can be tricky—whether for a job interview or your day-to-day role….

Read More
Team of engineers examining a 3D-printed object in a modern tech lab.

#INSIGHTS

Posted 29 Oct 2024
6 Critical Ways to Future-proof Your Workforce For The Tech Revolution in Manufacturing

Automation, AI and robotics are reshaping the manufacturing industry. In the midst of the evolution to ‘Industry 4.0’, any business…

Read More
Female scientist examining a robotic hand in a high-tech laboratory.

#INSIGHTS

Posted 29 Oct 2024
The Next Generation: 5 Strategies for Attracting Top STEM Talent to Your Manufacturing Company

Australia’s manufacturing sector is entering a transformative era, with 4.0 automation and data-driven operations rapidly replacing traditional ways of working….

Read More
Three industrial workers wearing hard hats and safety vests stand together in a modern factory, looking at a laptop. The background shows a large manufacturing facility with machinery and equipment.

#INSIGHTS

Posted 8 Oct 2024
Why Excluding DEI in Recruitment Could Be Costing Your Manufacturing Business

Does your workplace support DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)  in recruitment? In the Australian manufacturing and supply chain industries, women…

Read More
A man working on a laptop with notebooks and papers on a desk, while two colleagues stand and discuss work in the background in a modern office setting.

#INSIGHTS

Posted 23 Sep 2024
Quiet Confidence: Navigating Workplace Dynamics as an Introvert

In today’s often extrovert-centric work environments, the power of quiet confidence is frequently overlooked. Yet, this understated trait can be…

Read More