Managing a Multi-Generational workforce: A Review

Abstract

In the present times, the face of the workplace appears to have changed in a big way. The typical workplace of today witnesses a new form of diversity that is Generational Diversity. It has all the three working generations namely Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y co-existing, each contributing in its own way to the organization. As the attitudes, expectations, aspirations, values and behavioral moorings of these diverse generations are different the difficulties of their working together side by side under one roof is being faced by the organization. With The advent of generation Y and the fast pace of retirement of Baby Boomers the issues of knowledge and skill management has cropped up in the workplace and posing challenges to human resource managers and practitioners. Academic research relating to intergenerational skill and knowledge gap and its implications are rather scanty. In this changing workplace demographics scenario, the employers are finding it difficult to hire employees with relevant skills, knowledge and experience in light of the rapid changes in the technology and workplace practices. There is an urgent need to focus on this issue so that the intergenerational workplace diversities get addressed effectively. The present article is a review paper that seeks to examine the relevant issues arising out of this situation and provide suggestions for bridging the skill gap among the various generations working together