Gurnee Fire Department Case Study

1210 Words3 Pages

The new employees of the Gurnee Fire Department are getting younger while our current members are getting older. Our older generations are preparing to retire which will bring a younger generation with different attitudes and views of the fire service to the forefront. This will pose a challenge to our current leadership and we need to plan how to manage this younger generation, as they will be the future leaders of the Gurnee Fire Department. Our department is currently made up of 3 generations who all have a unique perspective in their values, beliefs, and morals. Our older Baby Boomer generation is extremely hard working, dependable, and strives to do their very best everyday. This generation enjoys leadership roles and are good team players. We need to learn how different generations accomplish tasks and identify the differences between them. We need to provide clear leadership and direction working toward a common goal of communication, relationships, and improving morale between the groups. The first recommendation is to create a multigenerational mentoring program, having different generational groups talking to each other. Thus improving their working relationships by sharing unique experiences and knowledge each has to offer. We then need to evolve our training styles by taking into consideration how each generation best learns and to facilitate those environments. Classroom, with and without multimedia, along with hands-on training taught by members from each group, will help challenge the different generations. Being instructed in different techniques and methods will build teamwork and help to identify strengths and weaknesses, thus streamlining operations resulting in a sense of pride at work. Outside instructors should be utilized to provide an impartial view of multigenerational differences, offering suggestions for administration and members to work together, building on those relationships to reduce conflicts. The College of Lake County offers classes in managing generations in the workplace, costing $175 per

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