Understanding generational differences may be the key to staff retention, according to Cam Marston of Marston Communications in Charlotte. There are four generational categories:

Mature—61 and older
Boomers—42 to 60
Generation X—27 to 41
Millenials or Generation Y—Under 26

Those in the mature category followed a set of rules to achieve their positions. They expect younger people to follow the same rules, but younger people believe the rules don’t apply to them because they have different goals.

Boomers comprise the majority of employees, but they don’t understand why younger people won’t accept the same responsibilities they did.

Employers appeal to the penchant for hard work by those in the mature and boomer categories, let them know how valuable they are, and offer to do what is needed to help them enhance their job performance.

Generation Xers are hard working and loyal, but they, like millenials, are loyal to people, not to organizations. And they are skeptical about companies.

Millenials are driven by a herd instinct but seek individual identity within their groups. For example, they may all want tattoos, but the tattoos are unique. They have been coddled and have not known adversity. The future is short-term to them. Their parents treat them like friends, but in the workplace, people who are their parents’ age do not view them as friends. They do not wait for praise—they celebrate their own successes. Witness the celebratory dances by football players. They live with their parents longer, and are more influenced by their parents in making decisions, such as careers and jobs. Big 4 firms offer them the chance to construct their own career paths and advance through them at their own rates. Employers recognize that millenials believe work is not their life, time is as important as money, and that they do not want to trade one for the other.

From Inside Public Accounting, May 2006, p.1, Hudson Sawyer Professional Services Marketing Inc. www.hudsonsawyer.com. Subscription $345 per year; back issues—nonsubscribers $35. 404-264-9977. [email protected]. To read the complete article, click here.