Appreciating Co-workers from Different Generations

Every generation has a different way of thinking about work. Chances are, your life experiences have shaped the way you view teamwork, professionalism and technology.

Sometimes generational differences can cause you to butt heads with your co-workers or to get frustrated with each other. But, every generation brings a unique perspective and a variety of skills to the workplace. That’s why it’s important that the groups learn to work together in harmony.

To understand the strengths of other generations, it’s helpful to know a little about their life experiences and how those experiences have impacted their work ethics and values.

For example, the Traditionalists, who grew up during World War II and the Great Depression, tend to respect titles and rank. They value punctuality and honesty and are sometimes hesitant to learn new technology.

Baby Boomers came of age during the revolutionary 1960s and are a politically- and socially-minded group. They’ve strived to climb the corporate ladder and are considered the first workaholics.

Generation Xers were the first generation to grow up with MTV, car phones and video games. Xers are thought of as skeptical, technology-savvy and interested in work-life balance.

The last generation, Millennials, are just now stepping into the workforce in mass numbers. They’ve never known a world without computers, cell phones or instant messaging. While Millennials are considered experts at multi-tasking, they are also viewed as having short attention spans.

How can a workforce with such diverse individuals become a blended team? By relying on each other’s strengths and compensating for each other’s weaknesses. For instance, if you’re a Gen Xer working with a Traditionalist, what do you think you could teach that individual, and what do you think you could learn from them? A good guess is that you could teach them how to use the latest software or adapt to some change within the organization. And Traditionalists, with their strong work ethic and years of experience, make excellent mentors for younger generations.

While dealing with generational differences can be frustrating at times, pausing to consider the other person’s perspective will help you gain greater insight into the situation. Often, your first instinct may be to think that others view an issue the same way you do. But, making that assumption can cause disappointment and misunderstanding when the other party doesn’t respond in the way you expect. When working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, it’s especially important to keep an open mind and to be quick to offer understanding and acceptance.

Focusing on co-workers’ strengths and forgiving their weaknesses can be a challenge. But, learning to value differences in points of view and abilities is a great first step to appreciating co-workers from different generations. Not only will you reduce tension at your job, but you may even be surprised to make a new friend.

Save a Life – 3 First Aid Tips for the Workplace

As the characters of the 80s cartoon show GI Joe used to say, “Knowing is half the battle.” Knowledge is certainly power when it comes to safety in the workplace.

Without weekly public service announcements on safety from characters like Smokey the Bear or McGruff the Crime Dog, it’s easy to forget safety basics. But familiarity with first aid can be the difference between life and death. The tips below can help you respond appropriately to medical emergencies.

Burns – Cool the Skin
Burns are one of the most painful types of injuries. When someone is burned it’s important to determine the severity of the burn. First-degree burns are minor burns and affect only the top layer of skin.

Second-degree burns are more serious and usually cause blisters to form. Both first-degree and small second-degree burns can be treated by running the skin under cool water for 10 minutes, applying aloe vera or antibiotic ointment to the wound and wrapping the burned area in sterile gauze. Second-degree burns that cover more than several inches of the body should be treated as third-degree burns.

Third-degree burns are the most severe kind of burn because multiple layers of the skin have been damaged. The burned areas often appear white or charred. This type of burn can be life threatening, depending upon the percentage of the body that has been burned.

If you suspect a third degree burn, call 911. While waiting for medical assistance, don’t remove burned clothing because this can take off layers of burned skin tissue that are stuck to the clothing. Unlike first or small second-degree burns, it’s not advisable to run severe burns under cool water because there is a risk the person could go into shock. Instead, cover the burn with a cool, damp cloth.

Injured Spine – Stay Still
Damage to the spinal cord can cause paralysis and even death. An employee might injure his spinal cord at work from a serious fall, a blow from a heavy object or an electrical shock. Some symptoms of spinal injuries are lack of consciousness, contorted torso, numbness or severe pain in the back or neck.

If you think your co-worker has suffered a spinal injury, don’t move him unless it’s absolutely necessary for his immediate safety – such as getting him away from a fire. First call 911. Then, check to see if the person is responsive. If the individual is not breathing, perform CPR, but be very careful not to move their head, neck or spine. To ensure further stability, you can put pillows or clothing around the neck of the injured person to keep their head in place. Moving a person who has injured his spinal cord could cause greater damage to the nerves.

Head Trauma – Stop the Bleeding
Head injuries can occur from a motor vehicle accident, a heavy object falling on the skull or falling headfirst onto a hard surface. Signs of a serious head injury are profuse bleeding from the face or head, bruising below the eyes or behind the ears, vomiting, confusion and slurred speech.

If a co-worker has sustained a head injury, move her to a dark room, and slightly elevate her head and shoulders. To stop the bleeding, apply firm pressure to the site of the injury with a clean cloth. Continue applying pressure for at least 20 minutes or until help arrives. Like responding to a spinal injury, it’s important to keep an individual with a serious head wound still.

While no one wants to encounter a medical emergency, it is always best to be prepared for these types of situations. Following the above tips just might help you save a co-worker’s life.

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