Gen Y vs. Baby Boomers

Who ever said there are more baby boomers than Gen Y (Millennials)…they are wrong.  We usually hear things like “there are a lot of more baby boomers retiring than Gen Y entering the work force.  That’s incorrect as of new data that’s been release.  There are about 3 million more Gen Y folks than there are Baby Boomers.  Makes sense.  How do we satisfy the younger work force.  We cater to them by what they value:

• Technology– They love technology.  Give them laptops, tablets, cell phones and state of the art software…they are like kids in a candy shop.  The baby boomers don’t care as much about this.  Especially for Architects and Engineers.  Knowing you are cutting edge gives them the belief that they are at the right place.
• Work-Life Balance– Both Baby Boomers and Gen Y care about this.  The difference is they won’t stat in the company just for job security.  Gen Y folks tend to be less risk adverse and more likely to take a chance knowing they have a better work life balance.  Give them every other Friday off in the summer in exchange for 9 10 hour days.  These added perks mean something to them.  Give them the chance to be able to work from home if you trust them. (And you should if you hired them).
• Pat on the the back– They love to get attention.  Small bits of feedback, or praise goes a long way.  Trust me, I’ve learned that through encouragement comes loyalty and hard work.  It’s uncanny how well it works, but it does.
• Encourage a voice– Ask them to challenge you.  Baby boomers challenging you as a business leader might come off as a threat.  Baby boomers want to have a voice.  They seek attention through feedback and praise from people who are important to them.
• Company sports team– they adore this.  Easy method of team building, and competitive spirit.  Softball, kickball, volleyball, etc.   Once a week.  After work.  Gen Y=dig this.

As baby boomers continue to grow older and retire, they are becoming less and less.  We need them more than you know to train and pass along knowledge to these Gen Y folks.  However, the sooner you, as a business owner, realize the future of your firm is you ability to attract and retain Gen Y,…the better off you’ll be. As the DC and Baltimore Engineering and Architectural recruiter, we find that especially in our business, the more Gen Y, the faster the production of documentation gets and the more technology friendly those employees are.  You will need both, it’s how to manage both that will be challenging for you.