Mixing and Managing Four Generations of Employees by Greg Hammill

Abstract
Hammill dissects the differences between the four major generations that current make up our workforce. Each generation acts in different ways from one another in similar situations. Hammill argues that many workforce problems could be avoided if employers took the time to figure out if the problems are generation related. For instance, Generation Y employees, born between 1980-2001, tend to communicate through technology instead of directly face-to-face or even on the phone. This can become an issue when someone from the Veteran generation, 1922-1945, is trying to get a hold of them for something work related. This day and age is unique in the way that there has never before been four generations of employees working side-by-side.

Reflection
I never realized that each generation could be grouped according to workforce traits, that's pretty neat. I'm not sure if I buy into the idea that our generational gaps are the reasons for so many issues at work. I think that good communication is good communication. Either you have it or you don't. Coming from a person born in Generation Y, I realize that I do prefer to use technology to communicate, but even email has it's own language for deciphering what people are really feeling. The traits were interesting nonetheless.