Baby Boomers in the Workplace

Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964 when post-war optimism peaked along with the economy. This sudden sense of financial security led to a sudden uptick in the number of children born, totaling 79 million new additions to American families. Despite being raised by previous generations that put enormous value on political compliance and patriotism, Baby Boomers brought about a new age of rebellion as the Vietnam War roared to life.

The past few years have seen Baby Boomers tend to be categorized as stodgy rule followers with no understanding of what it means to be a kid. Still, this generation’s young adults kindled some of America’s most transformative events, ushering in the Civil Rights Movement, the concept of “free love,” and a bustling anti-war machine deeply concerned with our social responsibility on a global level.

Broadly speaking, Baby Boomers also dove headfirst into much of the technology we’re still passionate about today, including home cinema in the form of videotapes, smaller computer hardware, video games, and plastic-based money management.

Unlike older generations, in which children were seen and not heard, Baby Boomers refused to be silenced. This trait was most poignantly reflected in the fact that this generation has the highest divorce rates and second marriages in the nation’s history, as women felt they had the means and resources to leave unhealthy relationships without risking poverty.

However, these sentiments did not necessarily extend to the workplace, where previous generations continued to encourage a more traditional hierarchical and social structure that often reflected their parents’ opinions about race, gender, and age. Because they grew up in a bygone era when corporate ladder climbing was encouraged, they adopted the nose-to-the-grindstone habits of older workers in an effort to remain competitive in the fields.

Other names include the “Me” Generation. They currently make up 25% of today’s workforce.