Journal of Property Management

INDUSTRY NEWS & NOTES | QUOTABLES

Intergenerational conflict among employees is an issue at almost three quarters of organizations—a problem more than half of organizations are trying to rectify, according to a poll from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Released in May, SHRM’s study, Intergenerational Conflict in the Workplace, revealed that 44 percent of respondents said intergenerational conflict existed to a “slight degree” in their organizations; 25 percent said to “some degree,” and 3 percent said to a “large degree.” More than 400 randomly selected SHRM members participated in the study.

Approximately one-quarter of respondents said conflict between the different generations does not exist in their workplace environments. Respondents from organizations with fewer than 500 employees were more likely to report the generation gap as a problem in their offices, according to the survey.

People managers at organizations cited inappropriate dress first and foremost, followed by poor work ethic, as problems with younger employees. More than one third of respondents also suggested informality, the need for supervision and lack of respect for authority as problems. Younger workers cited resistance to change, lack of recognition and a tendency to micromanage as problems with older managers.

Respondents, of all ages, expressed concerns regarding the other generations’ use of technology. Younger employees said older employees’ “aversion to technology” is a problem; while older employees said younger employees’ “inappropriate use of or excessive reliance on” technology is a source of concern.

Despite the multitude of problems associated with intergenerational workforces, companies are not shying away from these tough issues, according to the survey results. Fifty-six percent of respondents said their organizations are addressing intergenerational conflict through increased coaching and mentoring for managers ( 61 percent); implementation or increased coaching for non-managers ( 44 percent); and increased training on job expectations for new hires ( 38 percent).

Generational Challenges Abound in Workplace

QUOTABLES

“The superior man is easy to serve, but difficult to please. The inferior man is difficult to serve, but easy to please.” —CONFUCIUS, CHINESE PHILOSOPHER

“In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.” —WARREN BUFFETT, AMERICAN INVESTOR

“ To open a shop is easy; to keep it open is an art.” —CHINESE PROVERB

“Aim above the mark to hit the mark.”

—RALPH WALDO EMERSON, AMERICAN POET

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” —ANDRÉ GIDE, FRENCH AUTHOR

“A man with a surplus can control circumstances; but a man without a surplus is controlled by them, and often has no opportunity to exercise judgment.” —HARVEY S. FIRESTONE, AMERICAN BUSINESS MAN