Bridging the Generation Gap
If government
was depicted
as a pop culture
family…
…would
we be
more like
this?
…or this?
Or maybe even…
like this?
however we see
ourselves…
we’d better learn to get along
For the next
56 minutes…
Gens and Gov Overview
Gen Y Perspective
Boomer PerspectiveYour Questions
Four Generations
Defined by: demographics, media, pop culture, market research
Shaped by: shared childhood experiences, early-adulthood actions
Intended to: stereotype understand common traits
Four Generations
Traditionals /Matures
Baby Boomers
Gen XGen Y /
Millennials
Born: 1920-30s 1946-1964 1965-1978 1979-2000
Age:Mid 60s to 70s
Mid-40s to Mid-60s
30s to Mid-40s
Tweensto 20s
Four Generations
Traditionals Boomers Gen X Gen Y
Work: By Book Get It Done Efficient Deadlines
Boss: Command Seniority So? Tell, Do, Praise
Personal: Work | Home Work First Balance Blend
Advance: Experience Earned It Eh? Eager
For more detailed info, please see http://www.slideshare.net/govloop/
Four Generations
Caveat: “Curmudgeons
come in all ages.”
- Tiffany Smith, State Department
Gen Trends in Government
60% of Federal workers eligible to retire by 2015
90% of senior executive leaders
70% of Boomers expect to never retire
45% of Federal new hires open to “govies for life”
42% of college upper class interested in gov’t
What This Means For You
Adapt WYSIWYG, baby
Prepare for your moment to rise
Learn from mentors / senior leaders
Gen Y Perspective
Top 5: Things
Gov Newbies
Need to Know
Gen Y Perspective
1: You’re not
the best
thing since
sliced bread
Gen Y Perspective
2: If you
have
needs,
communicate
them.
Gen Y Perspective
3: You
can’t
do it
all alone.
Gen Y Perspective
4: Pay
attention
to the
culture.
Gen Y Perspective
5: Learn
when
to shut up.
Gen Y Perspective
Moral: Keep an open mind
and have a learner’s attitude.
Baby Boomer Perspective
We ain’t leaving just yet and
we’d like to work with you…
Are Boomers Really Retiring?
Are Boomers Really Retiring?
23
Moral:Hang in
there,
Gen Y!
Early Technology Experiences
Ever heard of or know how it worked (?)
Typing tests as part of employment process
Typing pool
Carbon paper
Correction fluid
Key punch machine
First facsimile machines
Dictation machines
Newsletters
Lack of Communication?
Imagine:
No call waiting
No cell phones
No pagers
No answering machines
No internet
No VTCs
Two party lines
Five digit phone numbers
Employee Viewpoint Survey
- Survey of HHS employees worldwide
- Rolls up into “Best Places to Work” study
- What can we learn about preferences based on age?
Opportunities from the Survey
Survey Questions - make-up of categories
Year
Personal Work
Experience
Recruitment,
Development, &
Retention Performance Culture Leadership
Learning
(Knowledge
Management)
Job
Satisfaction
Satisfaction
with Benefits
2008 Questions: (1 - 10) (11 - 21) (22 - 36) (37 - 47) (48 - 54) (55 - 63) (64 - 74)
EVS Data: Total Agree
Operating Division
Personal Work
Experience
Recruitment,
Development, &
Retention Performance Culture Leadership
Learning
(Knowledge
Management)
Job
Satisfaction
Satisfaction
with Benefits
Over 40 72% 66% 51% 53% 66% 52% 51%
Under 40 72% 68% 52% 56% 70% 56% 52%
EVS Data: Total Disagree
Operating Division
Personal Work
Experience
Recruitment,
Development, &
Retention Performance Culture Leadership
Learning
(Knowledge
Management)
Job
Satisfaction
Satisfaction
with Benefits
Over 40 13% 16% 23% 19% 15% 24% 8%
Under 40 12% 15% 21% 16% 14% 22% 10%
AVERAGE SCORES FOR EACH CATEGORY
Opportunities from the Survey
28
Top 5 Most Important Thing for Boomers
Item Question Total Agree Total Disagree
20 The work I do is important. 90% 3%
54
Employees use information technology (for
example, intranet, shared networks) to perform
work.
88% 4%
69 How satisfied are you with paid vacation time? 86% 5%
6 I like the kind of work I do. 85% 5%
70
How satisfied are you with paid leave for illness
(for example, personal), including family care
situations (for example, childbirth/adoption or
eldercare)?
84% 6%
Top 5 Most Important Thing for Gen X & YItem Question Total Agree Total Disagree
54
Employees use information technology (for
example, intranet, shared networks) to perform
work.
89% 4%
20 The work I do is important. 89% 3%
19I know how my work relates to the agency's
goals and priorities.85% 5%
33 I am held accountable for achieving results. 83% 5%
1The people I work with cooperate to get the job
done.83% 9%
90% 88% 86% 85% 84%
3% 4% 5% 5% 6%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
20
54
69 6
70
Question Stem / Question Number
Total Agree Total Disagree
Top 5 Most Important Thing for Boomers
89% 89%85% 83% 83%
4% 3% 5% 5%9%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
54
20
19
33 1
Question Stem / Question Number
Total Agree Total Disagree
Top 5 Most Important Thing for Gen X & Y
What Boomer Leaders Want
• Dependability
• Plain language
• No surprises but…
• Watch over communicating
• Protocol or process
• Learn how to manage your manager
• Professional etiquette
Questions?