Problem with Multigenerational Workforces

Introduction Most companies today are faced with the problem of multigenerational workforces and ageing population. In general, the values and attitudes held by individuals towards work and relationships are largely determined by how they were raised and where they grew up (Werner et al. 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Problem with Multigenerational Workforces specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Since the problem of multigenerational and ageing workforces is here to stay, it is becoming increasingly important for human resource professionals in modern day organizations to understand the various challenges encountered in dealing with the different groups so as to formulate appropriate policies and procedures that can enable them to satisfactorily address emerging concerns. This is further complicated by the fact that not everyone shares the same values and attitudes within each generation. By nature, people ar e able to quickly fit into varying organizational structures guided by different human resource policies and procedure. According to Hickman (2009, p. 15), the difference in values and attitudes towards work are as a result of the time in which they grew up. To effectively deal with the multigenerational workforces it is necessary for human resource professionals to assume that there are similarities that tend to bring the generations together while on the other hand, differences set them apart. Human resource professionals should seek to understand the similarities and differences and consequently come up with strategies to deal with emerging issues. It is advisable for human resource professionals to devise policies and procedures that can cater for a wide variety of individuals. Multigenerational Workforces Much has been written about the expectations of individuals in different age groups and generations. For employers, these varied expectations present challenges, especially gi ven economic, global, technological, and other changes in the workplace (Weiss 2008, p. 54). In the United States, the commonly identified generational groups include traditionalists, baby boomers, generation X, and generation Y. As the economy and industries have changed drastically, the ageing of the US workforce has equally become a significant concern for many. Workers over 55 years are now using different strategise to survive. They are notorious for delaying retirement age, and opting to work part time or retire in a phased manner.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Economic conditions are the predominant reasons why these workers are bypassing the normal retirement age of 65. Certainly, employers will continue to face challenges of getting the right workforce as the older generation of more experienced employees go into retirement. Finding the right replacement for the r etired staff will be a daunting task for employers. According to Mathis and Jackson (2010, p. 113), young and old generation workforces tend to have a totally different approach to work, and this creates more challenges that must delicately be addressed by human resource experts. For example, many baby boomers and traditionalists are concerned about security and experience, while younger people have different concerns. Generation Y expect to be rewarded quickly, use more technology, and often ask more questions about why managers and organizations make the decisions they do. Consider the dynamics of a traditionalist manager directing generation X and Y individuals, or generation X managers supervising older, more experienced baby boomers as well as generation Y employees. However, it is crucial to be aware that stereotyping these individuals by generations may not reflect how actual individuals view their jobs and produce organizational results. Clearly, it important for managers to fully aware of challenges as well as any possible opportunities associated with multigenerational workforces and ageing populations in an organization. Presently, many organizations are using numerous approaches in order to enhance multigenerational effective and improve approach to management of complex workforces. Strategies include mentoring, employee recognition, organizing trainings that accommodate every employee with no regard to the generation he or she belongs to, using younger employees to support the older employees, creating an environment in which skills from the older employees can passed on to the younger employees, and establishing multigenerational work groups (Rowe 2010, p. 57). The old age dependency ratio indicates what proportion of a country’s population is of retirement age and what proportion is of employment age (Pollitt 2006, p. 18). In 2005, the average old age dependency ratio for countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation a nd Development (OECD) was 24 per cent. As time goes by, it is alleged that this ratio is likely to double and will lead to increased spending.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Problem with Multigenerational Workforces specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In industrialized nations, employers have realized that a high number of employees belonging to the older generation will soon be retiring. Among other concerns is how organizations will be able to fill the result gap in their workforce. This is mainly due to the fact that the younger population may not be in a position to effectively handle responsibilities earlier handled by the retirees. There will be a growing shortage of experienced employees able to step into the shoes of retiring senior leaders (Mercer et al. 2010). However, economic necessity is not the only driver. The legislation is underpinned by ideals of fairness, and a commitment to civil and human righ ts. Although it makes financial sense for people to work longer so that they pay more taxes and delay drawing their state pension, law makers seeking to prohibit age discrimination and raise the age of retirement claim they are driven by moral and ethical imperatives, not just money (Froemming 2000, p. 31). In general, people of retirement age are considered fitter and more energetic than in the past, making them better able to cope with the physical and mental demands of work. More importantly though, work gives a sense of purpose and meaning to life, a benefit that individuals ought not to be denied simply because they have reached a certain age. According to Mercer et al. (2010, p. 22), the development of equality legislation has been justified not only in terms of increasing a nation’s global competitiveness and reducing its public spending, but also in terms of increasing an individual’s social or moral well being. These same two drivers lie behind similar modern legislation outlawing other forms of discrimination. The existence of equality legislation helps to simplify and strengthen the complex anti-discrimination laws that have developed over the years. Ageing Population Although the effects associated with an ageing population on the formulation of human resource policies and procedures can be significant, they can vary greatly from country to country (Spiers 2003, p. 13). A major challenge encountered when dealing with an ageing population is the commitment by the state to care for retired employees through pension funds.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Certainly, the cost of providing for the aged population increases as more employees retire from active employment. This in turn puts a strain on the economy and subsequently, the rate of taxation has to be increased, placing a huge burden on the tax payer. In general, pension funds come with heavy liabilities which can in turn greatly affect a country’s finances and consequently recruitment and remuneration policies. As noted by Smentek (2006, p. 26), there are numerous other problems brought about by an ageing population. To address the emerging issues, some human resource professionals advocate for effective succession planning. Generally, succession planning requires organizations to think ahead and devise effective plans for filling workforce gaps as older employees leave active employment. Well informed human resource experts will ensure that as older employees advance in years and as they approach the stipulated retirement age, they are given a responsibility to mentor the younger employees. By equipping the young generations of employees with critical skills needed to work effectively, human resource professionals are able to guarantee continuity even after the older employs go into retirement. Besides boosting the self esteem of the older employees, a well planned succession plan helps to build the confidence of younger employees and compel them to be more responsible and reliable employees. An approach adopted by most organizations involves the creation of multigenerational groups that create a platform where both the older and younger generation of employees can interact and freely share their skills. Infertility and ageing are also to blame for work force problems experienced in some countries. Over time, the number of active employees goes down, putting these countries in a state where the available workforce can not satisfactorily meet the increased market demand for labor force. Other than requiring employers to pay high salaries to maint ain the small work force available, the level of production also declines. Ultimately, organizations that manage to survive are forced to operate at a loss. To address this problem, some countries such as the United States have relied heavily on immigrants. On the other hand, the United Nations suggests that countries should make careers in public service more lucrative in order to attract and retain a high caliber of employees (UN 2005, p. 39). Although tried by some countries, the idea is yet to be implemented in most countries across the world. In countries such as China, different strategies are being employed by human resource experts. One such strategy has been to turn to the use of tactics that enable effective use of a smaller work force. Although strategies to make work in the civil service appealing to many have been used in some organizations, as suggested by the United Nations, the practice has not completely taken root as widely expected by most human resource professio nals. Numerous efforts have also been made by various organizations in order to nurture talented individuals and prepare them for future responsibilities. Another option suggested by the United Nations to deal with the scarcity of employees is to invite professional from other countries with desired skills to take up available jobs (Leibold Voelpel 2007, p. 38). Apparently, this is an approach that has been used by a number of countries for years. One of the leading countries as far as this is concerned is the United States. Dealing with Multigenerational Workforces and Ageing Populations Besides some of the solutions mentioned earlier, other options also exist. According to Mathis and Jackson (2010, p. 29), succession planning offers a solution to the concerns of multigenerational workforces and ageing populations. Despite its importance, however, succession arrangements are not widely implemented by many. In fact, the lack of succession planning is frequently viewed as the bigges t threat facing small businesses. According to Lencioni (2011, p. 28), succession planning is critical regardless of who the businesses is to be passed on to. Planning for and handling the succession process effectively helps a great deal to avert problems and ensure that the organization continues to grow. Besides having a well planned succession plan, content theory of motivation may also be used to address issues associated with a multigenerational workforce (Thompson 1996, p. 24). This may involve putting in place mechanisms to ensure that the older generation feels respected. Making use of the older generation of workers to mentor the younger workers, for instance, is a way of satisfying their self esteem need. Organizations should also make plan to meet their security and safety needs. Organizations should provide motivating retirement packages to guarantee older workers of comfortable life after retirement. In a similar way, there should be plans to meet the needs of the youn ger generation. In addition, a flexible job design will enable organizations to continue using the services of aged and experienced workers (Borkowski 2009, p. 35). Plans can be made for such workers to execute their job tasks from the comfort of their homes. Conclusion All aspects of public life have been affected by an increase in legislation, particularly in the area of employment. In the recent past, employment law has greatly expanded to prohibit discrimination on grounds of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation (Mercer et al. 2010). One driver of this expansion is the perceived need for a modern society to mobilize its entire potential workforce and available intelligence in order to meet the pressures of globalization, multigenerational workforces, and an ageing population. Reference List Borkowski, N 2009, Organizational Behavior in Health Care, Jones Bartlett Learning, Sudbury, MA. Froemming, BJ 2000, Managing and Leading a Multigenerational Workfo rce: A Nurse Manager Needs Analysis, Management and Health and Human Services Administration, Minnesota. Hickman, GR 2009, Leading Organizations: Perspectives for a New Era, SAGE Publications, New Delhi, India. Leibold, M Voelpel, SC 2007, Managing the Aging Workforce: Challenges and Solutions, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken, NJ. Lencioni, P 2011, The Five Temptations of a CEO: A Leadership Fable, John Wiley and Sons, San Francisco, CA. Pollitt, D 2006, Diversity in the Workforce, Emerald Group Publishing, Bingley, UK. Mathis, RL Jackson, JH 2010, Human Resource Management, Cengage Learning, Mason, OH. Mercer, J, Barker, B Bird, R 2010, Human Resource Management in Education: Contexts, Themes and Impact, Routledge, New York, NY. Rowe, KA 2010, Managing Across Generations, American Society for Training and Development, New York, NY. Smentek, D 2006, Managing An Ageing Workforce: The Impact of an Ageing Population on the German Labor Market and how Employers can Deal with Related Challe nges, GRIN Verlag, Santa Cruz, CA. Spiers, C 2003, Managing Stress in the Workplace, Taylor Francis, Dayton, Ohio. Thompson, DP 1996, Motivating Others: Creating the Conditions, Eye On Education, Princeton, NJ. United Nations (UN), 2005, Unlocking The Human Potential For Public Sector Performance World Public Sector Report 2005, Academic Foundation, New Delhi, India. Weiss, JW 2008, Business Ethics: A Stakeholders and Issues Management Approach with Cases, Cengage Learning, Mason, OH. Werner, S, Schuler, RS Jackson, SE 2011, Human Resource Management, Cengage Learning, Ontario, Canada. This essay on Problem with Multigenerational Workforces was written and submitted by user Alexzander W. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay How to write a compare and contrast essay? What is a comparison essay? Get the answers in the article below. A  compare and contrast essay (also known as comparison essay) requires the author to either compare or contrast an item, a piece of art, a concept, a literary piece etc. Due to the fact that a comparison essay may require to either compare or contrast things, it can be referred to as a compare/contrast essay. Such type of writing generally requires thorough observation and analysis from the author. A compare and contrast essay  typically follows the rules of common essay writing. The form and ideas may vary, but the structure and logic will in most cases remain the same. For example, any contrast comparison essay will start with a thesis statement, expressing the main idea of the paper. All subsequent paragraphs are meant to support the thesis statement and illustrate it with facts and/or examples. For example, if this is a five paragraph comparison essay, the three paragraphs that follow will serve the purpose of supporting the thesis. The final paragraph usually summarizes the points, expressed in the preceding paragraphs and should also support the thesis statement of the comparison essay. To write a compare and contrast essay that is easy to follow, first, determine similarities or differences you are going to mention in your essay. To begin with, this can be done on a scrap paper. Determine what is more prominent the similarities or the differences? Plan to discuss the less significant first, followed by the more significant. It is much easier to discuss ONLY the similarities or ONLY the differences, but you can also do both. Before reading further the detailed plans on how to write a compare and contrast essay, check out our list of compare and contrast essay topics: Compare and Contrast Essay Topics To organize your comparison essay, choose one of the plans described below: Plan A for writing a compare and contrast essay: Use Plan A if you have many small similarities and/or differences. After your introduction, say everything you want to say about the first work or character, and then move on to the second half of the essay to say everything about the second work or character. Compare and contrast each item of the second item with the corresponding item in the first. In this format, all the comparing or contrasting goes on in the SECOND HALF of the piece. The exception to this is your main (thesis) statement, which you may want to put in the beginning. Plan B for writing a compare and contrast essay: Use Plan B if you have only a few, larger similarities or differences. After your introduction, discuss one similarity or difference in BOTH works or characters, and then move on to the next paragraph to describe the second similarity or difference in both, then the third, and so forth, until youre done. If you are doing both similarities and differences, juggle them on scrap paper so that in each part you put the less important first (X and Y are both alike in their social positions . . .), followed by the more important (but X is much more aware of the dangers of his position than is Y). In this format, the comparing or contrasting goes on in EACH of the middle parts. These recommendations apply to the general flow of the compare and contrast essay and may vary depending on how the task is set. Experience shows that coping with such assignment may conceal dozens of other nuances, which often may pass unattended unless a professional writer is working on it. In case you have a compare and contrast essay to work on, our writers can assist you with this assignment and deliver it to your satisfaction. We guarantee that all our papers will be delivered on time and will be free of plagiarism. To order, please visit our order page or contact our live support via chat, email or phone. is the service you can trust! How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay We compare and contrast things all the time. Do we want this camera or that one? Should we get a dog or a cat (or maybe both)? Do we want to major in English or Biochemistry? Do we want pizza or tacos for dinner? You get the idea.When your teacher assigns you a compare and contrast essay, essentially what he or she wants you to learn is how to be presented with two different ideas, to evaluate them, and to determine what they have in common, what they dont have in common, and how the ideas work together (or dont). Being able to compare two different ideas and to evaluate them in a research-based way will serve you well in the future because we tend to compare stuff a lot in everyday life.Although the style and structure of a compare and contrast essay is a bit different from your standard research paper or argumentative essay, it still uses the same concepts for a common goal: to organize your thoughts and research onto the page in a way that the reader will understand and, hopefully , to provide some new insight.The structure of the paper will be somewhat the same as a typical essay. For example, you will still need to have a thesis statement, but your body paragraphs will be just a little different from, say, an expository essay. Because youre looking at two different subjects and how they are different (or similar), you will need to use an organizational structure to effectively compare and contrast. There are two ways to do this: You can use either the block method (which means that you are writing subject by subject in the paragraphs) or the point by point method (which means that the paragraphs will be organized around different points youre trying to make about the two different subjects).Last, you will still need a conclusion. The conclusion will still be a summary of your main subjects, but the conclusion will be an evaluation of what we learned by examining these two different subjects. Which is better? Which is worse? Why did we even compare these two things?Now that we know what components are in a compare and contrast essay, lets see how this might work in both the block method and the point by point method by looking at some sample outlines.The block methodIn a compare and contrast essay, the block method is one where you discuss everything about one topic at a time. This method might be preferable if you have a really in-depth discussion of a subject and you think it might be too confusing for the reader to keep going back and forth between the two subjects.For example, lets say that you are writing a paper on the differences between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Heres what that might look like using the block method.IntroductionA brief introduction to the topic When you are thinking about making a trip to California, you may be torn between visiting Los Angeles or San Francisco. They may both be large cities in California, but they couldnt have more different vibes or different types of activities to do while youre visitin g.Your thesis statement While Los Angeles certainly has a lot to offer, San Francisco has an old-world charm that cant be replicated and should be the choice of travelers considering a visit to the Golden State.Body paragraphsTopic sentence about Subject A From picture-perfect scenery like the Golden Gate Bridge to historic districts like Haight Ashbury to fun activities like the California Academy of Sciences, its unlikely that youll ever have a dull moment in San Francisco.Claim 1 about Subject A Here we would say something about how beautiful San Francisco is and how there are several opportunities for outdoor activities, and then mention how nothing can really top seeing the Golden Gate Bridge in person.Claim 2 about Subject A On this claim, we would probably write in-depth about the history of San Francisco and how districts like Haight Ashbury have a true significance in not just California, but the whole country.Claim 3 about Subject A On this final claim for Subject A, we wo uld write about how fun San Francisco is. We would mention the California Academy of Sciences and how its basically several museums rolled into one. We would also probably mention Musà ©e Mà ©canique, which is located right in the heart of Fishermans Wharf and is filled with early 20th century coin-operated games. At the end of claim 3, we would also want to have a transition sentence so that it doesnt look awkward when we immediately start talking about Los Angeles in the Subject B paragraph(s).Topic sentence about Subject B Los Angeles has plenty to do in entertainment and has many wonderful restaurants, but it just doesnt have the same charm as San Francisco and it is much more difficult to get around.Claim 1 about Subject B On this first claim about Subject B, we would probably list all of the merits of visiting Los Angeles. We would mention all of the theme parks like Universal Studios, Disneyland, and the Santa Monica Pier. We would mention how Los Angeles is typically warm and sunny, which makes it fun to go to the beach there during the summers. We would also mention Los Angeles fabulous restaurants in Koreatown and in Venice Beach.Claim 2 about Subject B On this second claim about Subject B, we would talk about how many visitors want to visit Hollywood when theyre in Los Angeles, but often they dont realize how difficult it is to park there and how its grittier than what you would expect.Claim 3 about Subject B On this last claim about Subject B, we would discuss just how difficult it is to get around Los Angeles. Though public transportation is available, it still has a long way to go and its almost a necessity to rent a car when youre in town. Plus, the traffic can get pretty bad on the 405. At the end of claim 3, we would want to put a transition sentence so that we can get into the comparison paragraph without its sounding too weird.Topic sentence that connects Subject A and Subject B Although clearly both San Francisco and Los Angeles have thei r merits for visiting, if you have to make a choice the answer is clearly San Francisco.What is similar between these two subjects? Here we would probably write something about how both cities are institutions in the state of California and that youll likely have a good time in both places.What is dissimilar? On this point, we would probably write about how Northern California and Southern California have two completely different vibes and that, ultimately, San Francisco has more cultural, historical, and fun things to do than Los Angeles does.ConclusionWhat conclusions can we draw from comparing these two subjects? Here we would say something about why its important to make sure you carefully consider where you want to go on vacation, and make sure its the right place for you because you want to guarantee a fun time if youll be paying money to visit somewhere. Clearly San Francisco would be the better end of the deal because we would have so much fun stuff to do without all the str ess of driving everywhere. We would have more time to explore the city.Any further research required or suggested for the future? Here we might say something about how you should always compare places when you are thinking about going on vacation.Is there a third thing that we should be comparing these two subjects to? We could briefly mention how there are a lot of other fun cities to go to in California like San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey, etc.The point by point methodThe point by point method of writing a compare and contrast essay is a way to discuss the contrasting differences between your two points throughout your paper. This keeps the comparison fresh in the readers mind, which might be preferable with some subjects over others.Lets see what that might look like using our San Francisco vs. Los Angeles topic.IntroductionA brief introduction to the topic (This would be similar to the block method.) When you are thinking about making a trip to California, you may be torn be tween visiting Los Angeles or San Francisco. They may both be large cities in California, but they couldnt have more different vibes or different types of activities to do while youre visiting.Your thesis statement (This also would be similar to the block method.) While Los Angeles certainly has a lot to offer, San Francisco has an old-world charm that cant be replicated, and it should be the choice of travelers who are considering a visit to the Golden State.Body paragraphsFirst Difference between Subject A and Subject B When thinking about taking a vacation to California, its important to think about what kind of transportation youll need.Detail 1 Here we would say something about how San Francisco has much more public transportation than Los Angeles does.Detail 2 Here we would mention how bad the traffic is in Los Angeles and how you can avoid that in San Francisco because of more walkability there.Second Difference between Subject A and Subject B San Francisco generally has more charm than Los Angeles.Detail 1 Here we would write in-depth about the history of San Francisco and how districts like Haight Ashbury have a true significance in not just California, but the whole country.Detail 2 Here we would talk about how many tourists want to visit Hollywood when theyre in Los Angeles, but often they dont realize how difficult it is to park there and how its grittier than what you would expect.Third Difference between Subject A and Subject B There are more fun things to do within a smaller area in San Francisco.Detail 1 We would write about how many fun things there are to do in San Francisco. We would mention the California Academy of Sciences and how its basically several museums rolled into one. We would also probably mention Musà ©e Mà ©canique, which is located right in the heart of Fishermans Wharf and is filled with early 20th century coin-operated games.Detail 2 Here we would list all the fun things to do in Los Angeles like Venice Beach, Universal S tudios, and Santa Monica Pier, but talk about how spread out all that is.Conclusion (This would essentially be the same as the block method.)What conclusions can we draw from comparing these two subjects? Here we would say something about why its important to make sure you carefully consider where you want to go on vacation, and make sure its the right place for you because you want to guarantee a fun time if youll be paying money to visit somewhere. Clearly San Francisco would be the better end of the deal because we would get so much fun stuff to do without all the stress of driving everywhere. We would get more time to explore the city.Any further research required or suggested for the future? Here we might say something about how you should always compare places when you are thinking about going on vacation.Is there a third thing that we should be comparing these two subjects to? We could briefly mention how there are a lot of other fun cities to go to in California such as San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey, etc.Still have questions?If youre still confused about how you would write a compare and contrast essay, be sure to speak with your teacher for additional instructions and advice. Have you written a compare and contrast essay and are unsure if youre following instructions or if its grammatically correct? Its always important to have someone look over your paper like a parent, tutor, or friend, or to seek out the assistance of a professional editor. Having someone look over your paper will ensure that everything makes sense and can help you with revisions.

North American colonies and the United States political system changes Essay

North American colonies and the United States political system changes - Essay Example In a republican framework, such growth of groups signified corruption. The elections of 1800s showed a tendency towards party system. In 1799 the Congress introduced 19 amendments and successful introduced the tax law. Slavery became an important issue of politics with southerners and northerners having different opinions (southerners favored slavery while some Quaker groups thought it should be ended). Washington was agreed upon to be the most suitable candidate as the first Republican President and he took office in 1789. By this time two political parties prevailed – Republicans and Federalists. Meanwhile a handful of Americans thought that electoral system would be most suitable. In a monarchy any difference of opinions led to factional divisions. Meanwhile both Jefferson and Madison opposed Hamilton’s measures and criticized them to be biased towards the wealthy groups. Hamilton accused them of trying to harm the republic. Their differences went further unresolved and increased as the periodic aggression from France and Britain came up again. The French Revolution embedded a dream in the Americans to reform the republic. Above forty Democratic societies were developed between 1793 and 1800 and the members had the goals of liberalization in mind such as safeguarding people’s interests and supporting self served rulers.