The new study by HR software provider Ciphr and ProAge – a UK charity focused on age inclusion in the workplace – found that most organisations recognise the value and opportunities of having age-diverse teams, but a lack of joined-up training, practices and policies means that many are not as age inclusive as they could be. Managers are being left to figure out how to make multigenerational working work, without always having appropriate guidance, structure or confidence to do so consistently.
In ‘The multigenerational workforce: value, reality and challenge’, respondents – including over 130 HR professionals, senior managers and leaders – share what they really think about multigenerational working and how they are managing the complexities that come with it.
The report includes a range of practical suggestions to strengthen good, age-inclusive practices: helping organisations to retain experienced staff, support development and progression, boost collaboration, use their people data responsibly, and ensure policies reflect the realities of longer, and less linear, careers.
Key findings from the joint report include:
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The main benefits of having multigenerational teams, according to UK employers, is broader experience and perspectives (88%), better knowledge sharing (81%) and succession planning (71%), improved problem-solving (69%), and stronger team culture and collaboration (57%)
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But relatively few (21%) employers have age-inclusive recruitment policies and just half (54%) of organisations with more than 1,000 employees formally track workforce age diversity as part of their DEI strategy
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Differences in communication styles (64%) and expectations about ways of working (63%) are seen as the biggest barriers to collaboration between different generations. In many organisations, how well these differences are managed depends on the team
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Half of UK organisations think their managers are somewhat confident in leading multigenerational teams, but far fewer (23%) are very confident. Worryingly, over a third (34%) of large organisations with 250–999 employees can’t say how confident their managers are, which points to a real disconnect between what organisations expect of their managers and what they are equipped to do
To coincide with the launch of the report, ProAge and Ciphr are hosting a joint webinar at 11am on Wednesday 1 July to explore the findings and discuss what good age inclusion looks like in practice. The session will feature Mike Mansfield, CEO of ProAge, and Ann Allcock, head of diversity at Ciphr. To register please visit https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0wyh3-0.
Mike Mansfield, CEO of ProAge, says: “Age inclusion is no longer a future workforce issue – it is already shaping how organisations collaborate, retain knowledge and support people through longer working lives. This report shows that employers recognise the value of multigenerational teams, but now need to turn that awareness into practical action. That means equipping managers, challenging age-based assumptions, supporting career development at every stage, and creating workplaces where people of all ages can thrive.”
Ann Allcock, head of diversity at Ciphr, says: “Ciphr and ProAge’s study on multigenerational working has shone a light on one of the least explored aspects of the diversity agenda. Age is a subject that engages, and is relevant for, all employees. For employers with a positive and purposeful approach to age diversity, this offers an opportunity to foster inclusion and respect and to drive innovation and performance across all workforce generations.”
She calls for employers to be more strategic about how they promote and support age-inclusion in their workplaces. The study shows that multigenerational teams are now the norm, but that many organisations are still managing them by accident than by intentional design.
“We know from separate Ciphr research, that ageism is the most common form of workplace discrimination in the UK,” adds Allcock. “The onus is on employers to get this right, so they can leverage the positive benefits of age-diverse teams, without friction and bias.”
Ciphr and ProAge identified five key areas where employers can make a difference.
Allcock explains: “First, make knowledge-sharing between generations purposeful and intentional. Ensure that project teams are typically cross-generational, and pair older and younger employees through a structured two-way mentoring scheme.
“Second, build line manager confidence around age diversity to create harmonious, inclusive and efficient teams. Include the topic of age diversity in all management and leadership training and development, with practical guidance on how to learn about and navigate different expectations, communication styles and assumptions across teams.
“Third, align learning and development with career stages to get the best out of every employee, wherever they are on their life journey. Remember to offer different development experiences for early, mid and late career employees.
“Next, use the people data in your HR system to inform workforce planning. Consistently and responsibly track and analyse employee demographics to understand how people at different career stages are experiencing work. Report on this to make it transparent, and act on what you have discovered.
“And finally, ensure that existing employment policies are comprehensive enough to respond to all life-stage needs. Review them through a life-lens to check they are relevant, appropriate and impactful.”
Ciphr and ProAge’s report is available to download at https://www.ciphr.com/guides/guide-download-the-multigenerational-workforce-value-reality-and-challenge
Ciphr is the UK specialist in HR, payroll, benefits, learning and recruitment software for mid-market organisations (200–2,000 employees). Its integrated platform brings the whole employee lifecycle into one place, so HR, L&D and payroll teams can work from the same up-to-date people data.
Ciphr's eLearning boasts a comprehensive range of off-the-shelf diversity and inclusion training, including courses on inclusive leadership and management, challenging unconscious bias, and measuring and communicating DEI progress. Ciphr's expert instructional designers can also craft fully bespoke eLearning solutions.
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