From baby boomers to Gen Z, four generations now work alongside each other in the office – and this unprecedented situation can sometimes become a source of tension.

Indeed, the behaviours and attitudes of new entrants to the job market are often frowned upon by their managers, which can discourage young employees from investing themselves in their work.

In the eyes of their older colleagues, young people are seen to be less committed, less respectful of authority, and less loyal to companies. These preconceptions tend to hold firm despite several reports having shown that the professional aspirations of young people are not all that different from those of more senior workers.

By being told that they are unmanageable, young workers end up disengaging from their work, which is detrimental to their productivity. Indeed, 37% of Gen Z-ers and 30% of millennials find themselves unproductive, according to a new report by the London School of Economics.

In comparison, only 22% of Gen X-ers and 14% of baby boomers say they lack efficiency at work.

Younger employees who have a large age gap with their manager generally feel less productive than those closer in age. For example, young employees with a manager 12 years older are 1.5 times more likely to feel a drop in productivity, and are thus less satisfied with their working lives.

These employees then have the choice of resigning, or staying on and doing the bare minimum.

Cut out ageism

To avoid intergenerational misunderstandings in the workplace, it’s important to combat all age-related prejudices, and not just those aimed at young people. Notably, older workers are also stereotyped in the workplace: they are said to be slow, lacking in drive and resistant to change.

Yet, on closer inspection, the vast majority of people over 60 express the wish to continue working, progressing and training in the years to come.

So, how can we make the most of the qualities of each and every generation in the workplace? According to the study, managers need to avoid any form of ageism, and think about policies that encourage intergenerational collaboration, so that all age groups can coexist peacefully in the office.