Editor’s Note: Reaching across generations

Maybe it’s the amount of time I spend on social media, but I sometimes find myself dismayed by the number of posts I see that try to pit generational groups against each other.

Gen Z vs. millennials vs. Gen X vs. baby boomers … you’ve probably seen the posts, too. Someone from a particular group dislikes, derides or dismisses the values, habits and opinions of another generation. At their worst, they’ve led me to question the value of placing people into groups.

But when we’re talking about safety training and learning styles – well, that’s a different story. The understanding that, in general, specific generational groups have certain preferences about how they obtain and retain information could prevent an on-the-job injury or death. So, in his article this month, Associate Editor Barry Bottino speaks with a workplace researcher who studies multigenerational workforces. He also asks three safety pros about what they do to tailor their communications and training to reach all workers.

As Carl Heinlein, senior safety consultant at the American Contractors Insurance Group, so aptly points out, the generational differences should be embraced. From Barry’s article:

“I think every generation looks at the next generation coming up and says, ‘Oh my God, how are they going to survive?!’” Heinlein said. “In most cases, they actually do better. They’re smarter, faster, stronger. There were differences between me and my father, and me and my children.

“It’s how you embrace it, how you work with it, how you engage with it as an organization.”

So, thanks for all you do to keep everyone in your workplace – of all ages – safe and well.

The opinions expressed in “Editor’s Note” do not necessarily reflect those of the National Safety Council or affiliated local Chapters.