Helping two college kids move into their new apartment last week, I caught myself labeling them as Zs. One expressed disgust at being labeled. After all, she had planned and orchestrated the lease, packing, move and transition beyond admirably. She was correct. She didn’t belong in a bucket with a label. I apologized and acknowledged her initiative and strategic skills.
For years, age and generation have been collective lenses through which organizations have viewed their workforces. With today’s workforce spanning five generations and growing more complex, generational differences may not be the right anchor point.
Enter the word “perennials.” It describes an ever-blooming group of people of all ages, stripes, and types who transcend stereotypes and make connections with each other and the world around them. These people continue to push up against their growing edge, always relevant and not defined by their generation.
Source: Deloitte Insights, May 15, 2020. Link.
Looking beyond generation to segment the workforce according to individual behaviors, values, and attitudes can help organizations to meet workers’ needs and expectations in ways that are more meaningful to them and more beneficial to the enterprise.
INSIGHTS: The deeper researchers dug into generational differences, the more they disappeared. For animal health pros, this means looking beyond age, gender and experiences to engage employees, colleagues and especially customers. Note the discussion of the consumer product industry.