(From San Francisco Chronicle) -- There's no arguing that the workplace is an ever-changing environment. As societal norms change, so does the culture of our organizations. Considering that many people are living longer lives, it's not abnormal to find people of an older age staying active in the workplace. Alternatively, perhaps some people are working longer as a result of financial need stemming from economic pressures. Regardless of the reason, retiring at 65 isn't necessarily a guarantee. As younger generations join the workforce, the dynamics change as their values and opinions impact the way organizations function and interact. At this point in time, there are four generations that are active in our workforce, and there's little doubt that having that wide an age range in any organization is bound to come with challenges.

Generations, Generally

In times past, the workplace functioned in such a way that orders given by the supervisor were simply followed – no questions asked. As modern generations don't typically respond well to this type of management style, organizations have had to change and evolve. This isn't to suggest that the young generations have made the workplace more challenging – in fact many of the changes that have come about in the workplace have made workplaces more flexible and respectful of the needs of their employees. It's important to keep in mind that each generation tends to see the world through a unique lens that forms as a result of the events that were taking place in the world as these individuals grew and developed from children into adults. Each generation's suggested set of attitudes, behaviors and motivators typically apply to a large portion of the population that falls into each segment. Of course, each individual has his or her own unique values and experiences, so generational values should only be looked at as tendencies that apply to a particular age group and must never be treated as rules.

**Traditionalists

**This generation is also sometimes also known as "Veterans," which may be appropriate considering that this group was born in the years 1922 to 1945, a time which would have had many of these individuals actively involved in or impacted by the Second World War. The people of this generation came from traditional, nuclear families with two parents, and often a mother who stayed home to take care of the family. This group also faced several bouts of tough economic times and is typically careful with money. Traditionalists have a tendency to respect authority and are likely to be loyal to their employers. Those who are in this group may not be motivated by big salaries or job titles since a large portion of Traditionalists who are currently in the workforce are there because they want to be, either for a social outlet or to have an income to supplement their retirement.