Next Steps in Hiring

Well, the whole issue of the different generations has just shifted.  As I have presented over the last 5 years, I have predicted that all of the boomers would retire within months of each other when the stock market climbed above some arbitrary point - my guess was 13,500 on the Dow. 

Well, with the economic meltdown, all bets are off.  Talking with several senior HR people today (all of whom were boomers) they both report that retirements are certainly off for their "on the cusp" employees, who have watched their 401k plans divide by half.  That means that all of the generational issues we have been watching are suddenly becoming bigger, with cranky boomers who wanted to retire rubbing up against Gen X'ers who are hoping that the boomer's retirement would create some promotion and growth opportunities.  Space to grow?  Not so much.

In all of this, HR is an important tool.  If you can, build HR Services that use assessments and career personality tests to predict job fit and succession planning.  Recognize that the generations see the economic meltdown differently, as seen in this news story.

We've all got to get along, and good talent management will go a long way...