Canadian Marketing Blog

Workplace Harmony between Gen Y’ers and Boomers

According to a recent Ernst and Young study, 45 percent of baby boomers say they are comfortable using technology, but only nine percent of Generation Y (born after 1980) think that boomers are adept at technology. These misperceptions can cause big problems in the workplace. About 84 percent of Gen Y’ers use technology to avoid difficult conversations while boomers prefer discussing difficult subjects in person or over the phone.

Younger people think that boomers’ inefficiencies with technology create lost opportunities for their workplace while boomers think that members of Gen Y need to work on having more face-to-face interactions. Let’s not forget who invented technology. Bill Gates is a boomer and so is Steve Jobs. According to the Savvy Boomer, a popular blog helping boomers understand how to use technology, the boomer generation uses technology as a means to an end. Younger people use technology as the end.

I have some tips for reconciling boomers and Gen Y on this subject: boomers should invite younger folks to more face-to-face meetings while younger people should teach boomers more about technology!

Great article, Lina. I've had a few internships and I've seen the funny things that happen when Gen Y, Boomers and technology intersect.

One reason why Gen Y might be using technology to "avoid" difficult conversations -- we're used to having everything documented. If there is something troubling in the workplace, there is nothing like having an email you can print out as proof of who said what.

In my experience, Boomers are adept at technology, but only to the extent to which they are trained. When it comes to exploring new technology, Gen Y is more comfortable jumping into the deep end and figuring things out from there.

I recently worked in a small office where I was the only Boomer and everyone else was a Gen Y. We all got along famously. Many times they would recycle my old tried and true methods into updated techno wonders. I learned much from them and, hopefully, I returned the favour.