They may be approaching their retirement years, but they have a wealth of experience that should be listened to and learned from. Today’s media may like to start culture wars between generations, but the reality is that the workplace should be a melting pot of different ages, experiences and skills. And great employees are those who learn from everyone that they meet. They understand they can take inspiration from and be inspired by co-workers from different generations, different departments and different backgrounds. With this in mind, in this article, you will learn the common workplace characteristics of the baby-boomer generation and why you should be learning from your elders.
What Is a Baby Boomer?
The baby boomer generation has shaped almost everything you do in the workplace. This cohort was born directly after World War II, between 1945 and 1964. As such, they have been working for over 50 years.
Baby Boomers – Born 1945–1964 Generation X – Born 1965–1980 Millennials – Born 1981–1994 Generation Z – Born 1995
It’s not uncommon to find baby boomers who have spent their entire working lives with the same employer. Unlike younger generations who are happy to switch jobs to find what they are looking for, baby boomers have characteristically valued loyalty and longevity in the workplace.
What Are the Common Characteristics of Baby Boomers in the Workplace?
Although every employee is an individual and should be treated as such, it is clear that different generations tend to have similar characteristics. These are shaped by the world in which they grew up. For example, Generation Z tends to be extremely socially aware, yet highly entrepreneurial. In contrast, millennials are likely to be hard-working, tech-savvy and seeking opportunities that reward hard work. As the oldest working generation, baby boomers have seen it all. They’ve witnessed the boom-and-bust period of the 1980s. They’ve worked through various economic, political and societal changes. And they have witnessed how technology has developed and evolved to what we know today. With so much experience, perhaps we shouldn’t be writing off baby boomers. Instead, we should be trying to learn as much as possible from this generation. Let’s look at some common workplace characteristics that define the baby boomer generation and see how these are still applicable in today’s working environment.
Hard-Working
Baby boomers have an incomparable work ethic. That’s not to say that younger generations are afraid of hard work, but this is a group of workers who began their careers without the benefits of technology and automation. Baby boomers started their careers believing in a clear managerial hierarchy. They will likely have started working in an entry-level role before climbing the career ladder and reaching senior positions. A typical characteristic of a baby boomer is that they feel that they ‘paid their dues’. As a result, they were not afraid to put in the work or the hours to achieve the rewards, and they may struggle to understand the concept of work-life balance.
Why Is This Valued in the Workplace?
Employers will be looking for hard workers, and that’s why many businesses are keen to hire baby boomers today. This generation is prepared to work harder than anyone else because it’s all they’ve ever known. A typical characteristic of baby boomers is that they are prepared to enter at the bottom and work their way through the ranks. This is hugely positive, because it gives them a good oversight of the entire business, from the ‘shop floor’ to the senior team. This approach can provide different perspectives and ideas, as well as generate respect throughout the business.
What Are the Possible Drawbacks?
Some baby boomers may feel that today’s younger generations are less prepared to work hard, and they could criticize what younger workers are used to, such as a positive work-life balance. Although baby boomers undeniably work hard, they may not work as productively as others, because they are not giving themselves adequate time to refresh and reset their minds. They may also struggle to cope with technical changes in evolving working practices.
Competitive
Baby boomers advocate heavily for the hierarchical managerial structure, and, as such, they are hugely competitive because seniority = prestige. In the right industries, this competitive nature could be hugely advantageous. However, it could be complicated in others, and issues could arise.
Why Is This Valued in the Workplace?
This competitive nature is what drives baby boomers on. It motivates them and encourages them to keep going, because they feel that they will be rewarded. Unlike other generations, baby boomers will not stop until they’ve achieved their goals. This makes them a force to be reckoned with.
What Are the Possible Drawbacks?
This competitive nature doesn’t lend itself to every sector. It’s also a very traditional approach, because it’s based on a race to the finish line, with little emphasis on trying new things and creating more effective ways of working. As part of their competitive nature, baby boomers believe that visibility is just as important – it’s not just about working hard. It’s about being seen to work hard. Therefore, businesses that incorporate remote working or offer great work-life balances may struggle with baby boomer employees who may be reluctant to embrace these changes.
Loyal
Loyalty is a common baby boomer characteristic. These older generations believe in a job for life, and they will happily spend their entire careers working with one employer. This contrasts hugely with younger generations, who are more content to chop and change their job roles (and their employer) until they find a perfect fit.
Why Is This Valued in the Workplace?
It goes without saying that employers will welcome this loyalty. They want to invest in staff keen to work with them for a long time, and no generation represents this quite like the baby boomers!
What Are the Possible Drawbacks?
There can be loyalty issues. If you feel that the fit isn’t necessarily quite right, a baby boomer is unlikely to resign because they believe in staying with the same employer for the duration. But, unfortunately, their sense of loyalty compels them to stay in roles that they don’t enjoy, which could lead to uncomfortable working practices for both employer and employee.
Job-Defined
Many baby boomers will define themselves personally by the job that they have. The origins of the terms ‘blue-collar’ and ‘white-collar’ can be traced back to the baby boomer generation. Therefore, being defined as a person by what they do, and their job, is a key baby boomer characteristic. As we’ve already mentioned, baby boomers are known for their long-lasting approach to their careers, and, as such, they will consider the values of their employer as their personal values.
Why Is This Valued in the Workplace?
Baby boomers are incredibly proud of their jobs, and they will be passionate advocates for their employers.
What Are the Possible Drawbacks?
From an individual perspective, you may wish to distance yourself to have healthy boundaries between your work and personal life. However, baby boomers who characterize themselves by what they do can find that those boundaries may become blurred.
Goal-Focused
Baby boomers are goal-focused, partly due to their competitive natures. They want to work towards a specific task, and they feel a great sense of accomplishment when they reach their goals. As the first generation to take advantage of the educational opportunities and post-war societal changes, baby boomers have been raised to work hard and be ambitious.
Why Is This Valued in the Workplace?
In a work context, this is an admirable trait. Baby boomers are welcoming the opportunities to drive forward and achieve key deliverables. Employers can feel confident that their expectations will be met and goals will be achieved, because a core characteristic of baby boomers is that they will work hard to get the job done, regardless of what is thrown at them.
What Are the Possible Drawbacks?
This is a hugely admirable trait, but the goal-focus of the baby boomer generation means that they are perhaps not as flexible or adaptable as other generations. This is a cohort who may rely on outdated ways of working because ‘that’s how it’s always been done’. While this experience and knowledge are not to be dismissed, employers need to help the baby boomer generation understand how new ways of working can improve efficiency and revenue.
Obedient
Baby boomers are obedient in the workplace. They will typically get on with what they are being asked to do, without question and they value their integrity. A baby boomer’s characteristic is that they like the routine structure, and they want to get on with the task required with minimal fuss.
Why Is This Valued in the Workplace?
HR teams may think that this is a dream come true; after all, baby boomers will unwaveringly follow any policies or procedures set in place. In addition, they will work hard and go above and beyond to make sure that goals and tasks are completed on time.
What Are the Possible Drawbacks?
Sometimes, the best innovation comes from those who break the rules. Those who can think beyond the mundane and look at new ways of working can be vital in the workplace. Businesses need to have people who aren’t afraid to take a risk – perhaps they’ve spotted a potential area for business growth, or maybe they’ve noticed an opportunity for a new service or product. Employers should try to have a mix of staff who will get the job done without question and natural risk-takers or entrepreneurs.
How Can You Use These Characteristics to Strengthen Your Workforce?
With such positive characteristics, it’s no surprise that employers welcome the input of the baby boomer generation. After all, what business wouldn’t want a loyal, hard-working employee who follows the rules? If you are employing a multi-generational workforce, there are a few ways you can make the most of the older generation and help them to work to the best of their ability. They may be approaching retirement age, but they still have a lot to give.
Implement Clear Structures to Measure Success
One option is to implement clear structures to measure success. As we’ve mentioned, baby boomers are very goal-oriented, and they welcome clear start and endpoints of specific projects. So if you can showcase to them how they are working towards achieving those goals and how realistic the aims are, you can utilize their competitive nature in a structured way.
Praise and Recognize Success
Think about how you praise and recognize success. If a baby boomer employee is making a significant impact on the workforce, make sure their contribution is publicly recognized. This generation is hard-working and extremely loyal, so you must take the time to nurture this loyalty. Making it clear that you’ve noticed their hard work and dedication is a good way to keep them motivated and passionate about what they do.
Ensure Everyone Feels Ingratiated Into the Department
It can be hard for multi-generational workforces to bond as a team. Still, you must do what you can to ensure that everyone feels ingratiated into the department, regardless of their age or experience. Think carefully about how you can meet the different needs of staff members. For example, while younger generations may welcome exhilarating team bonding activities, this could exclude older workers. On the other hand, perhaps simple solutions such as regular meals or other wellbeing initiatives could be enough to make everyone feel welcome and part of the same team.
Promote a Good Work-Life Balance
Finally, think about how you can promote a good work-life balance. It may be tempting for a baby boomer to work their way through, especially as the concept of a work-life balance is relatively new. However, it’s not healthy or good for morale or productivity. As an employer, you need to make a conscious effort to promote healthy lifestyles and wellbeing in the workplace and reduce stress. If you’ve noticed that a member of the baby boomer generation isn’t taking care of themselves, they need to be reminded of its importance.
Final Thoughts
The baby boomer generation has overcome more than perhaps we realize, and they bring an enormous value to the workplace. Their knowledge and understanding of the job are often unparalleled, and, as employers, we need to make the most of it while we can. This generation of employees may be close to retirement, but many workers choose to stay in the workplace, not because they need to, but because they want to. They enjoy the work they do, benefit from keeping fit and active, and like the working day’s structure. With so much hard work and loyalty at stake, it’s important to think carefully about their typical characteristics and figure out how to implement workplace policies that can help you get the best from them.
