A push for harmony among workers, young and old

The solution for a growing number of companies: generational awareness training to help foster understanding and more effective communication among its workers.

Employees are taught about the characteristics that define each generation, from their core values to their childhood and adolescent experiences to the type of figures they regard as heroes. Then workshop leaders typically drill down into how those attributes play into the strengths and weaknesses each age group offers on the job.

The goal is that by learning why people of different generations act the way they do, companies can better emphasize their employees’ strengths and find ways to overcome challenges

“The Boomers say, ‘Now I understand a little bit more of why they’re always on their phones,’ ” said Juergen Deutzer, who leads generational training at San Diego-based Scripps Health for about 200 employees a year. “Gen Y says, ‘Maybe I need to be a little bit more understanding if someone doesn’t get a grasp on technology.’ “