What keeps different generations awake at night? 🌙💼

Baby boomers (1946 - 1964): health and meaningful work 👴👵💪

For baby boomers, vitality is important, especially as they approach retirement. After a long career, they want to remain both physically and mentally fit. However, they often face the uncertainty of whether they still add value. The feeling that they might not be able to keep up in a rapidly changing work environment can be quite stressful. You want to create a workplace for this group where they not only participate but also continue to flourish. By allowing them flexibility in their work and participation in health programmes, you help them maintain their vitality. Think of mindfulness workshops or stress management; sharing their experience as mentors makes them feel valued and involved.

Ideas box:

• Create an ‘Experience Coffee’: Organise an informal coffee session where baby boomers can share their knowledge with younger colleagues. This helps them feel engaged and pass on their value.
• Start a Vitality Drop-in Session: Make a vitality coach available once a month to answer personal questions about health and retirement.
• Launch a ‘No Deadline Day’: Allow them to spend a day focusing on their favourite tasks without time pressure, making their work experience more positive.

Generation x (1965 - 1980): balancing work and home life 👨‍👩‍👧🏡

Generation X juggles work and family, often with both children and elderly parents to care for. For them, vitality mainly means finding balance so they don’t feel they’re falling short in either area. Flexibility is crucial here. Hybrid working and flexible hours help this generation find balance. Walking meetings or fitness options give them a moment for themselves. Additionally, offering coaching for caregivers can support them both at home and at work. Finding balance between work, family, and caring duties is the ultimate goal for Generation X. Flexibility is key: hybrid working and adaptable hours provide them with the breathing space needed to keep all the balls in the air. Walking meetings or access to fitness options can give them a moment of respite, while caregiving coaching helps them maintain a balance between work and home life.

How to support them:

• Start ‘Flexible Fridays’: Allow employees to structure their hours flexibly on Fridays so they can finish earlier and spend more time with their family.
• Introduce ‘Recharge Moments’: Encourage short breaks where they can disconnect – for instance, by offering a ‘tech-free’ lunch.
• Organise ‘Life Stage Lunches’: Invite a coach or speaker to discuss work-life balance challenges specifically for this age group.

Millennials (1981 - 1996): growth and purpose 📈💡

Millennials, also known as the 'purpose generation', seek more than just a job. They want to grow, learn, and work with meaningful impact. Many millennials lie awake at night wondering: “Am I contributing enough?” or “Am I on the right path?”. Create an inspiring workplace where personal development is central. Training and career opportunities are important for their vitality. Encourage an open culture around mental health and offer tools, such as mindfulness apps, to help them manage it. Autonomy and hybrid working give them the freedom they value. For millennials, work isn’t just about earning money; it should add meaning to their lives. They want an environment focused on personal growth and development. Training, coaching sessions, and career progression opportunities are essential for their well-being. Encourage an open culture around mental health and give them access to programmes, like mindfulness apps, that support them. Autonomy and hybrid working ensure they feel the freedom that contributes to their vitality.

How to support them:

• Offer ‘Own Project’ Time: Give them an afternoon once a month to work on a project or goal that inspires and fulfils them.
• Schedule ‘Brain Breaks’: Organise short sessions, such as group meditation or breathing exercises, to provide calm during the workday.
• Start ‘Mini Mentorships’: Pair them with a mentor or coach for a few months for informal discussions about their goals and ambitions.

Generation Z (1997 - 2012): stability and social connection 📱🤝

Gen Z is just beginning their careers and seeks stability and connection. They’ve grown up in a digital world, which can also lead to digital fatigue. Regular feedback and coaching help them grow, and honesty is valued in this process. Create a culture where offline time and breaks are encouraged to prevent digital overload. Team activities, both in-person and online, foster social bonding. For Gen Z, work is more than just a job – it’s a quest for stability and connection. These young employees want to learn and grow in a safe, social environment. Regular feedback and coaching provide them with that space, and maintaining a healthy balance between online and offline helps prevent digital fatigue. Organise team activities and coffee meet-ups so they feel truly connected to their colleagues.

How to support them:

• Introduce a ‘Digital Detox Hour’: Allow time each day to go completely offline so they can recharge without screens.
• Create ‘Feedback Friday’: Set up a weekly moment for open and honest feedback, helping them learn and grow.
• Organise a ‘Social Lunch’: Plan a monthly lunch where team members can connect in a relaxed way, free from work pressure.

Vitality at home and at work 🏠💻

Each generation has its own challenges, but the need for balance unites them all. Vitality begins not just in the workplace, but also at home. By considering the unique needs of each generation, you create a work environment where vitality is at the core, resulting in healthy and happy employees, both at work and at home.