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.