The coronavirus-influenced workplace is being called “the new normal,” but facility managers have been dealing with a different new normal for a while, one that’s more about social interaction than social distancing.

Because people are working longer, we are at a time in history where a staff may be made up of multiple generations, with coworkers who are Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Zs. To keep things running smoothly, maximize the skills of every employee and to retain the best workers from each group, some managers are looking to generational consultants for guidance.

“It is incumbent on employers to help (older workers) develop new skills and become more involved in sharing their perspectives, so they do not feel isolated. Younger generations benefit from the context and strategies older workers have used. This is particularly important for front-line leaders or people managers,” says Adena Johnston, vice president of talent development at CCI Consulting.

Johnston and Katie Travia, manager of HR Training and Development at OperationsInc, work with employers to develop new management skills for the new normal. Both focus on collaboration and flexibility.

“Our workforce is constantly evolving and we have to adapt to those changes. One generation is not superior to another,” says Travia. “We have all been raised differently, which has defined how we behave in the workplace. Learning from each generation, why they act the way they do and how they can contribute to our workforce is all equally important.”