With a new generation of workers at management levels, the gap between seniority and leadership is closing as 34% of U.S. workers report their bosses are younger than they are, and 15 percent report working under someone who is at least 10 years younger, according to a new CareerBuilder survey.
Although most respondents say working for younger bosses is not challenging, there are differences in work styles, communication and expectations.
"Age disparities in the office are perhaps more diverse now than they've ever been," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. "It's not uncommon to see 30-year-olds managing 50-year-olds or 65-year-olds mentoring 22-year-olds. While the tenants of successful management are consistent across generations, there are subtle differences in work habits and views that all workers must empathize with when working with or managing someone who's much different in age."
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For respondents age 25-34, 55% prefer face-to-face communication, 35% prefer email and text, and 10% prefer phone calls while 60% of respondents age 55 and older prefer face-to-face communication, 28% prefer email and text, and 12% prefer phone calls.
When it comes to retention, 53% of respondents age 25-34 say an employee should stay in a job for at least three years, and 62% of respondents age 55 and older agree. Another 47% of respondents age 25-34 say an employee should stay with a position until he or she has learned enough to move on while 38% of respondents age 55 and older say the same.
Respondents seem to feel similarly about promotions as 61% of respondents age 25-34 say an employee should be promoted every two to three years for doing a good job while 43% of respondents age 55 and older agree this is an appropriate timeframe.
The survey also finds younger workers are more likely to work shorter days. In fact, 64% of respondents age 25-34 work eight or fewer hours each day while 58% of workers age 55 and older work eight or fewer hours daily, CareerBuilder said.
This article was originally posted at BenefitsPro.com, a sister site of Credit Union Times.
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