Some work force futurists stare into their crystal balls and report seeing the baby boomers and Gen Xers engaged in heated generational warfare, in which the Gen Xers will experience great difficulty ascending the career ladder because they are perpetually overshadowed by those 42+, who love their careers so much they will work well beyond their late 60s.
For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog
While there may be a grain of truth in this matter, in reality, I think things between these two groups will play out a little differently. Firstly, Gen Xers-once considered to be "the slackers"-have proven to be entrepreneurial.
This, according to the American Marketing Association, is due to the fact that many were forced to become very independent from a young age, having grown up in the first big waves of divorce. Gen Xers who feel constrained in their particular workplace by those 42+ will likely make a change, start their own business or find ways within their organization to drive new growth, rather than sit unhappily in the wings.
Further, many Gen Xers really appreciate the wisdom and life experience that boomers bring to the table. Many of my peers regularly talk about former boomer mentors they've had in various workplaces. If anything, they welcome their guidance and find the notion of older generations fighting with or competing with younger generations pretty strange. There is something truly unnatural about that.
And, while boomers will continue to enjoy what work brings to their lives, I can't help but wonder as they move into their 70s or 80s, if just maybe they'll surprise themselves by thirsting for some of the traditional and more passive notions of retirement after all-beaches, books, gardens, sports, sunshine, grandchildren, and no more "to do" lists or conference calls in tow.
Amanda Sobanet