A multigenerational workplace is one where employees from different generational cohorts work alongside one another. Rather than a homogeneous workforce organised around a narrow group, organisations today navigate the realities of four or five generations operating within the same teams and structures.

The multigenerational workplace thrives when we understand not just what each cohort might value, but also why they might and build systems, cultures and leadership approaches that serve all of them.

It is a social construct used to analyse the impact of change over time on outlooks and attitudes, including to work. Those changes might be economic, political, social or technological and any combination between them.

It is a useful concept to allow that analysis to take place but it is also limited. We are all the same species and a generational label does not appear on your birth certificate or passport. Differences within generations are much bigger than those between. Always start with the individual.

Whilst generational stereotypes are not helpful, the concept can also provide a lens that enables a workforce to understand each other more effectively. A workforce which can do that, and see the world through the eyes of their colleagues, will have a greater sense of belonging and be far more productive.

Generations are about looking at cohorts and how formative experiences stay with you over time. It is not about assuming people are fixed, but that there is a legacy from those initial experiences.

Both age diversity and generational diversity are considerable assets to any organisation as they bring a range of perspectives which, when combined, create powerful synergies.

When combined with other forms of diversity it enables people to bring their whole self to work and encourages them to see others for all they are. This is much better than the culture of the organisation being set by a narrow group of leaders, or by the most common demographic on the payroll.

Age ranges in the workplace are growing. People are retiring later, if at all. Sometimes this is a matter of choice and often not.

Secondly, Generation Z are the first generation of digital natives who have grown up with smart phones and associated technology. Everyone else had the opportunity to grow up in an analogue world which became digital. This is a significant change which has had a considerable impact on the workplace.

Below is the most common set of dates that I see, but different versions exist. This is helpful as it undermines both the idea that there is a guillotine between generations or that a label must apply.