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Why Team Building Events Are Essential To Your Multi-Generational Workplace

We live in a unique workplace environment today where we have five generations working together. As the average life expectancy has increased and many individuals are working beyond the typical retirement age, it’s common for multiple generations to work side-by-side. The age diversity in the workforce is the largest its ever been with five generations present:

  • Silent Generation (Traditionalists) – born 1928 – 1945
  • Baby Boomers – born 1946 – 1964
  • Generation X – born 1965 – 1980
  • Generation Y (Millennials) – born 1981 – 1996
  • Generation Z – born 1997 – 2012
While there are many benefits of a multi-generational workplace, like knowledge transfer and diverse perspectives, often these benefits go untapped because there is a lack of workplace cohesion.
If anyone watched The Intern with Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, you know what we mean! In the film, which mirrors real-life obstacles, a millennial CEO hired a baby boomer assistant and for much of the movie, Anne Hathaway’s character dismissed the value of Robert De Niro because she wasn’t interested in bridging the generational gap.
A lot of workplaces struggle to bring together the different perspectives of various generations to create a cohesive and beneficial workplace environment. It’s understandable that this is a challenge for management because different generations mean different communication styles and values all while dealing with pre-existing stereotypes.

That is why team-building events are so crucial for multi-generational workforces. Team building events break down barriers and allow a team to open up to one another. It provides the context for teams to see beyond stereotypes and enter a space where learning, collaboration, and mentorship opportunities are present.

At Idea Fountain, we love creating events for diverse workplaces that bridge gaps and help foster a positive environment where teams can flourish.