Traditionalists in the Workforce

Excerpt from “Empowering the Multi-Generational Workforce” book:

Traditionalists (born prior to 1946) 

Also, known as Radio Babies, Veterans, Seniors, or the Greatest Generation

• Conservative
• Fiscally prudent
• Loyal to their employers
• Practical
• Frugal
• Dedicated o Respectful
• Heroes
  • President Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • Eleanor Roosevelt
  • Babe Ruth
  • Jackie Robinson
  • Joe DiMaggio

• Defining Events
  • Great Depression
  • World War II
  • Korean War

Our Traditionalists will be absent from the workplace in the not too distant future. Currently according to statistics, only about 2% of our workforce is comprised of Traditionalists. That does not mean they will be absent from the marketplace. Before they exit your organization, it is important to glean from these valuable staff members the knowledge and experiences they possess. Although they gained these at a very different time, much of what they possess can be translated into current times. They are valuable mentors for the new generations that are taking their place if the respect that they deserve and value they bring is translated in the exchanges they have with those they mentor.

Here are some key excerpts from the “10 Answer Keys, Communicating with the 5 Generations in the Workplace” book.

Traditionalists by their very nature have a very strong work ethic. To them work is up there with religion. Their value as an individual is very strongly tied into their work. They are proud of their work and who they are. Not working is tantamount to failure. Most of them have worked for the same organization all their lives. They may have hated the job, but it brought a paycheck and they were satisfied. They were not looking to better themselves outside of the organization they worked for. The thought of switching organizations was unheard of, unless they were laid off or fired. They believed in the concept of hard work and would even go in when they were sick. I remember my mom walking 5 miles to work because there was a bus strike, and she couldn’t miss a day of work. She lasted at Nabisco for 33 years. Taking a day off was unheard of.

Time management among the Traditionalists was a matter of honor and duty. To be on time was what an honest and honorable individual did; being late was like robbing someone, and it would be considered a very flagrant flaw.

Traditionalists are usually reserved in nature regarding personal issues. These individuals do not like to share personal information especially to anyone they don’t know very well.

They have a wealth of information, but in most cases, are reticent about sharing details about their family or their personal lives. These were the generation of people that never talked about what happened behind closed doors in their homes. They were not the kind of people who shared their feelings – everything was very personal.

They were very opinionated but in most cases, would rather keep quiet than share what they were thinking. They were not confronters when controversial subjects came up except in the arena of religion and politics where they had some very firm beliefs and had very little tolerance for any opposing views. Until you really know them, do not expect them to open up, and recognize that in certain areas, they may never share.

On the other hand, they, Traditionalists can be very direct if the topic covers areas that they have very strong opinions on. They are not afraid to argue a point or offend someone if they feel the other party is wrong or violates some sacred issues to them.

They have an entire vocabulary in their non-verbal expressions. This group was not raised in the verbal arena so their body language makes up for it.

Traditionalists managed their people. There was a job to be done, and someone had to do it. There was someone who oversaw that the job got done and got done right. This group worked in environments where creative thoughts and ideas were not encouraged. There were a few organizations that challenged their staff members, but for the most part, it was a very top-down management style. As a staff member in this environment, your goal was to get to those top tiers so that your voice could be heard, yet for many in this group, their main goal was to get a paycheck and enjoy the weekends. Work was just a job; it was not a way of fulfilling longing and ambition. It was a different world for these individuals, and the main concern was they had a job and that they took care of their families. Historically Traditionalists worked in a very male dominated atmosphere. Promotions were done by hard work, being responsible and having loyalty to the organization. Bottom lines, innovative ideas, and competitiveness were not the setting of the Traditionalists group.

If you still have Traditionalists in your workforce, please  take  heed  in  what  we have shared. Seek to learn as much from them as possible before they leave your organization. They have experience and wisdom that can be transferable.