Organisations in 2025 have something that we previously didn’t often see, or rather we didn’t acknowledge. Although historically, companies have always had employees ranging within various age groups, what we observe today that sets them apart are labels that categorise each group of employees. Let’s face it, our workplace is like our own little ecosystem and very much like we did in high school or university, here too we end up having our “cliques” where we automatically gravitate towards people that we have things in common with. Much like the foundation of any friendship, this is how we also make friends in the workplace.
In light of this, referring to various generations based on their age groups like the younger generation as “genz” or senior colleagues as “boomer” has become common practice and this often affects the way in which we interact with them. Of course from a diversity perspective acknowledging that various age groups exist is important but this sometimes turns out to be counterproductive when we hold stereotypes towards certain generations in terms of their methods of work and workplace practices. For instance, have you ever heard the stereotype that a senior member in the company does not want to embrace the use of a new tool or technology because that is “not how they did things during their time?” Or on the other end of the spectrum, there are the very opinionated freshers that do not want to engage in certain “traditional” workplace practices because there are more innovative ways of doing things. This doesn’t sound very pleasant or harmonious does it?
However, I am not here to point fingers or the shortcomings of a multigenerational workplace because in fact the benefits far outweigh these little stereotypes and labels. Imagine the enriching conversations and exchange of ideas that are created when someone with years of experience combines their wisdom with the fresh perspective of a younger colleague. Additionally, imagine how much exchange of knowledge might occur both ways, especially with a fresher under the wing of someone that has been in the industry for decades. These are the exciting elements that we should focus on rather than on insubstantial things like labels.
As someone that has worked with colleagues of various age groups, I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to receive their insights and hear about their experiences. While research shows that generational differences can lead to miscommunications in the workplace, it is important for individuals to be mindful of how they communicate with their colleagues and be respectful of everyone around them regardless of age and any other demographics.
Just my two cents on a growing trend that I have observed and heard from a few of my colleagues and friends. Would love to know what you all think about it.
