Four Generations in the Workplace

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Four Generations in the Workplace

• Communicating and working within
• a multi-generational workforce

2
What we have here is a failure to communicate .
. .

• The young are permanently in a state resembling
  intoxication. Aristotle
• Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the
  work. Aristotle
• All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.
  Aristotle
• Ah, the pity, youth is wasted on the young.
  George Bernard Shaw
• Boomers wont admit theyre old until three years
  after theyre dead. (anonymous)

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The Four Generations at work in Todays Law
Office

• The Silent Generation 50 million
• (a/k/a The Traditionals)
• Baby Boomers 76 90 million (estimates vary)
• GenX 34 - 51 million (estimates vary)
• GenY 75 million
• (a/k/a The Millennials, Gen Next, The Echo
  Boomers)
• 48 Million balance of the U.S. population is the
  GI Generation (the very old) and the beginning of
  Generation Alpha (the very young)

4
Were Living Longer

• For the first time in history, there are four
  generations working together in the law office.
• Is it any wonder were having communication
  issues over work, family, life, politics, mores.
• In 1940, the first monthly social security check
  was issued to Ida May Fuller, a retired legal
  secretary.
• Back when the first social security checks were
  issued, many joked, just how many people are
  going to live to age 65 anyway? And, not many
  did.
• Except for Ida Mae who died in 1975 at age 100.

5
U.S.A. Average Life Expectancy

• 1930
• 1940
• 1950
• 1970
• 1990
• 2005
• In 75 years

• 59.7
• 62.9 (SS age set at 65)
• 68.2
• 70.8
• 75.4
• 77.8
• 18 years increase in average life expectancy

6
Follow the Boomers

• The tidal wave of babies that began in 1948
  changed every aspect of American life.
• Boomers parents were born and raised during The
  Great Depression.
• Boomers were told by their Depression-era parents
  that they were lucky to have a job, any job
• Which is what Millennials are being told today.
• Millennials are expected to have as big an impact
  on society as the Boomers

7
Recent Surveys Trends

• 76 of Boomers intend to keep working and earning
  after retiring from their regular job 2005
  Merrill Lynch survey
• 61 of attorneys surveyed n 2007 by legal
  consultants Altman Weil said they would continue
  to work in some capacity after retirement 48
  of these lawyers plan to continue practicing law.
• The legal marketplace has not addressed
  retirement of the Baby Boomers
• ABA has coined terms such as Encore Career and
  Senior Tsunami

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What is happening now . . .

• 12 of Americans were 65 and over on July 1, 2004
• By 2050, 21 of Americans will be age 65 and
  over
• (usgovinfo.about.com/od/censusandstatistics/a/olde
  rstats.htm)
• Contrast this against the fact that the average
  American lawyer does not hit his/her career
  peak until about age 54 and stays on that
  plateau until about age 62, and then the
  retirement transition might begin
  (www.Altmanweil.com)

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The Senior Tsunami

• According to a January 2007 report by the
  National Association of Bar Counsel and the
  Association of Professional Responsibility Joint
  Committee on Aging Lawyers (whew!), neither the
  ABA nor any State Bar has compiled demographic
  data on the aging of the profession.
• The senior wave has not crested the peak of
  Boomer births is 1957. (2010 53 year olds)
• The chart on this next slide is the most recent
  from the ABA.

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Aging of the Profession In 2000, 44 of American
Lawyers were age 40-65
1980 1990 2000 change 1980-2000
51 of all lawyers under 40 44 of all lawyers under 40 33 of all lawyers under 40 -18
37 of all lawyers 40 over 46 of all lawyers 40 over 56 of all lawyers 40 over 19
13 of all lawyers over 65 10 of all lawyers over 65 12 of all lawyers over 65 -1
24 of all lawyers age 40 65 36 of all lawyers age 40 -65 44 of all lawyers age 40 65 20
39 41 45 MEDIAN AGE
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Younger lawyers vs. Older Lawyers

• Many older lawyers believe that younger lawyers
  are slackers because they wont work hard
  like they had to work
• Many younger lawyers believe that older lawyers
  are workaholics
• Now that you have a better perspective, you know
  both sentiments are incorrect
• To wit Boomers worked hard to improve their
  childrens quality of life, and they succeeded
• Now, these Boomers have to work with two
  generations that BELIEVE in work/home balance

12
Becoming the Next Generation of Leaders

• Plan to acquire management skills
• Leadership training
• Strategic planning training
• Project management training
• As GenX and GenY lawyers transition into
  leadership positions, they must acknowledge that
  senior (Boomer) lawyers need to acquire
  alternative skill sets and assume new roles in
  the law office.
• Smart leaders dont throw away experience
• Marketing, Mentoring, Second Chair,
  Standardizing work product, Conflict avoidance
  management, Ethics counsel, Records information
  management (duty to preserve issues)

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The Four Generations at work in Todays Law
Office

• Q A
• You have questions?
• LOMAS has answers!