Reading the headlines on Gen Y, Gen X, and millennials it’s clear many people believe distinct generational categories exist, that there are very real differences between them, and that organizations must manage these differences. Others write articles claiming there is battle raging between one generation and another.
But there is very little empirical evidence to substantiate most claims about generational differences. In fact, an increasing amount of work published in recent years has begun to question the veracity of generational research.
Young professionals are often expected to start first, work through lunch, leave last, and yet get paid the least. Despite this, critique of youth is a recurring pattern throughout Western history. While many people born before 1980 seem ready to bemoan the apparent shortcomings of millennials, or those “bloody Gen Ys,” they seem to forget that people said the same thing about them when they were growing up.
