At no other point in the history of meetings and events are there so many generations in the workforce at one time. Planners must consider those in their twenties to those in their seventies when planning meetings and events.
One of the reasons four generations are sharing the workplace is the recession. Some who planned to have retired by now have not as they try to rebuild their 401Ks and save for future downturns. The four generations include the Traditionalists, those born before 1945 who are typically hard workers and can be technically challenged; the Baby Boomers who are born between 1946 and 1964 and enjoy personal fulfillment and competition; Generation X who are born between 1965 and 1980 and are known for being independent and entrepreneurial; and Millennials (also known as Generation Y) born between 1981 and 1999 and are extremely comfortable with technology and prefer it to communicate.
When planning meetings, not only should activities be generationally appropriate for these different age groups but so should the marketing campaign, communication, food and beverage, activities, and the venue.
“For the first time in history, the number of older adults in developed countries is growing faster than the number of young people,” says Ruth Finkelstein, senior vice president for policy and planning at New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM). “Fueled by increased longevity and declining birth rates, this global phenomenon is transforming societies and economies around the world and is reflected in our workforce.”