Managing Generational Differences in the Workplace: From Stereotypes to Success

As part of their ongoing “Employment Law in Focus” series for Today’s General Counsel, Woods Rogers Principals and management-side employment lawyers Anne Bibeau and Leah Stiegler take a closer look at the various generations in today’s workplaces, and offer legal guidance on how HR leaders and employers can manage the tensions that sometimes arise.

“We know we’re not supposed to stereotype people based on their age group,” the authors caution. “But let’s be honest: each generation gives the others plenty of material. Managing those generational differences in the workplace can be a real challenge.”

Anne and Leah offer a humorous overview of each generation to remind readers that each group brings “different values, communication styles, and assumptions into the workplace.”

“By embracing candid conversations about generational differences in the workplace, we move beyond stereotypes and assumptions to foster mutual understanding and respect,” Anne and Leah note. “These conversations pave the way for more inclusive policies, leadership styles, and work environments that accommodate diverse values and expectations. In doing so, we don’t just bridge generational gaps – we build workplaces where every employee can thrive.”

Read Anne and Leah’s article in Today’s General Counsel.