The Traditionalist or Veteran was born between 1900 and 1945 and comprise approximately 75 million of the nation’s employees. They are loyal and often have worked for only one employer for their entire life. Many of them have military backgrounds, are comfortable in a top-down management style and may be motivated by recognition of a job well done. They exhibit a strong work ethics shaped by the Great Depression and an “onward and upward” attitude. They are likely to struggle with issues such as absenteeism related to health issues, respect for diversity and lifestyle issues such as the effects of smoking and alcoholism.
"This generation has seen tremendous changes occur in the workplace such as gender and racial equality initiatives, drug-free workforce rules and changes in the organizational structure from hierarchical to horizontal management. Confusion about their role in the organization and a perceived disrespect for their historical knowledge of the industry and the organization can contribute to a lack of engagement. Feeling respected for their contributions and historical knowledge is important for this group of employees, who would prefer not to be marginalized as ineffective because they may lack the team-orientation or technological skills of later generations." (CookRoss, 2004.)
It is important that this generation not be undervalued as they continue to bring logic, attention to detail and historical knowledge to the workforce.
References:
Lancaster, L. & Stillman, D., “When Generations Collide: Why They Are. Why They Clash. How to Solve the Generational Puzzle at Work,” Harper Collins, 2002
Learner, N., “When Generations Meet on the Job,” The Christian Science Monitor, 2002,
http://www.scmonitor.com, p. 20
(No Author given), “Managing a Multigenerational Workforce, The Diversity Manager’s Toolkit,” 2004, Cook Ross, Inc.
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