Baby Boomers in The Workplace – Is Change Necessary?

It’s predicted that by 2018, only 25% of the workforce will be made up of the baby boomer generation. Characterized as those currently over the age of 55, study after study shows that this generation sees themselves working until the age of 70 or later. For this reason, an age gap of over 50 years in the office will lead to multi-generational challenges such as different perspectives, needs, and outlooks in the workplace.

OstermanCron has already explored the preferences of the Millennial generation (link to blog 86), in the workplace: moving office hierarchies to a flatter, more transparent structure. In contrast, Gen Z prefers very different workplace offerings like these.(link to blog 87). So, where will the Boomers find themselves once these generations begin taking over major roles?

As a generation that has seen the office move and transition through one decade to the next, Boomers are expected to be more susceptible to change and also very firm in their everyday routines. Workplaces certainly value their loyal Boomers, yet want to appeal to younger talent with cutting edge technology and fresh office furniture designs.

While office furniture stores across the country are trying new tactics to appeal to cross-generational workplaces, Kimball Office has proven to be one of the best choices for two defining reasons: its history and promising future. With its roots all the way back to the 1950’s, Boomers grew up working in Kimball office furniture, unlike many other office furniture stores. Kimball has managed to preserve its rich history within their classically styled office desks, while also producing new cutting edge modular furniture which has naturally appealed to young generations. Through forming design partnerships with some of the biggest names in the design industry, Kimball has broken barriers of old and new, innovative and classic.