© 2022 SweetRush, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Generations (People), Accepted Beliefs, Trends, Media, Books, Technology, and Significant Events that Shaped the Workplace for Each Time Period
Generation:
The silent generation is born (1928–1945).
Books:
How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
Media:
Technology:
The radio gains popularity in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Significant events:
• 1914–1918: World War I
• 1929–1939: The Great Depression (U.S.)
• 1939–1945: World War II
Workplace:
• Both world wars impact labor markets significantly.
• World War II, in particular, created millions of jobs for women.
• Government agencies and corporations start to establish voluntary safety programs as well as child labor laws.
Workers faced long hours, poor working conditions, and job instability. A physicval safety revolution starts examining the dangerous and working conditions in mines, railroads, factories, farms, and other industries of its time.
Out with the expectation of getting physically injured or using child labor, in with the dream of gaining power through an office job.
Generation:
Baby boomers are born (1946–1964).
The silent generation enters the workforce.
Books:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Media:
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
Technology:
More than half of American homes have televisions.
Workplace:
Elliott Jaques first introduces the concept of corporate culture in his 1951 book The Changing Culture of a Factory.
Generation:
The baby boomer generation enters the workforce.
Books:
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan (a major player in the feminist movement)
Business Adventures by John Brooks (a favorite of Warren Buffet)
Media:
Significant Events:
A worldwide series of political movements, known as Civil Rights, heightens. It looks to ensure that the rights of all people are equally protected by the law.
Workplace:
• The U.S. Army coins the phrase “soft skills” to differentiate from hard skills needed to work on machinery.
• The birth of the cubicle.
Out with the expectation of uniformity, in with the quest for equality.
Generation:
The Gen X is born (1965–1980).
Books:
Servant Leadership by Robert K. Greenleaf
Media:
Workplace:
1970, More Physical Safety: The US creates the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).
Out with the traditional power structures, in with a new landscape that includes more women and people of color.
Generation:
The Millennials are born (1980–2000).
Gen X enters the workforce.
Books:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Media:
9 to 5 and Wall Street
Workplace:
After being introduced during the 1950s in academia, the term “corporate culture” is collectively used and accepted in the business world.
Out with the slow and steady approach to success, in with the “greed is good” mindset and creation of the “yuppie.”
Generation:
The Gen Z is born (late 1990s–early 2010s)
Books:
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
Media:
Reality Bites and Office Space
Technology:
The birth of the internet (leading to smartphones and email) revolutionizes communication.
Significant events:
The dot-com bubble is in full force.
Out with memos and filing cabinets. in with a new technological age that starts to examine mindset and power.
Generation:
Millennials enter the workforce.
Books:
The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Media:
Technology:
Podcasts are born. Virtual and conference calling become popular.
Significant events:
• The dot-com bubble bursts.
• The housing market crashes.
Out with the individual focus, in with the focus on team collaboration and meaning.
Generation:
The Alpha generation is born (born 2010s–mid-2020s).
Books:
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Media:
Technology:
Social media becomes part of daily life.
Significant events:
2019, Mental Health is called out as a worldwide problem by the World Health Organization.
Workplace:
• Corporate DE&I initiatives start to become more popular.
• 2019, The term “power skills” appears. Power skills build upon soft skills (coined in the last century) to handle the mental agility needed to flex and adapt to ever-changing circumstances.
Out with a distinction between professional and personal personalities, in with a renewed focus on soft/power skills to transform workplaces through self-awareness, wellness, and authenticity.
© 2022 SweetRush, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Generations (People), Accepted Beliefs, Trends, Media, Books, Technology,
and Significant Events that Shaped the Workplace for Each Time Period
Generation:
The silent generation is born (1928–1945).
Books:
How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
Media:
Technology:
The radio gains popularity in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Significant events:
• 1914–1918: World War I
• 1929–1939: The Great Depression (U.S.)
• 1939–1945: World War II
Workplace:
• Both world wars impact labor markets significantly.
• World War II, in particular, created millions of jobs for women.
• Government agencies and corporations start to establish voluntary safety programs as well as child labor laws.
Workers faced long hours, poor working conditions, and job instability. A physical safety revolution starts examining the dangerous and working conditions in mines, railroads, factories, farms, and other industries of its time.
Out with the expectation of getting physically injured or using child labor, in with the dream of gaining power through an office job.
Generation:
Baby boomers are born (1946–1964).
The silent generation enters the workforce.
Books:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Media:
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
Technology:
More than half of American homes have televisions.
Workplace:
Elliott Jaques first introduces the concept of corporate culture in his 1951 book The Changing Culture of a Factory.
Generation:
The baby boomer generation enters the workforce.
Books:
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan (a major player in the feminist movement)
Business Adventures by John Brooks (a favorite of Warren Buffet)
Media:
Significant Events:
A worldwide series of political movements, known as Civil Rights, heightens. It looks to ensure that the rights of all people are equally protected by the law.
Workplace:
• The U.S. Army coins the phrase “soft skills” to differentiate from hard skills needed to work on machinery.
• The birth of the cubicle.
Out with the expectation of uniformity, in with the quest for equality.
Generation:
The Gen X is born (1965–1980).
Books:
Servant Leadership by Robert K. Greenleaf
Media:
Workplace:
1970, More Physical Safety: The US creates the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).
Out with the traditional power structures, in with a new landscape that includes more women and people of color.
Generation:
The Millennials are born (1980–2000).
Gen X enters the workforce.
Books:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Media:
9 to 5 and Wall Street
Workplace:
After being introduced during the 1950s in academia, the term “corporate culture” is collectively used and accepted in the business world.
Out with the slow and steady approach to success, in with the “greed is good” mindset and creation of the “yuppie.”
Generation:
The Gen Z is born (late 1990s–early 2010s)
Books:
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
Media:
Reality Bites and Office Space
Technology:
The birth of the internet (leading to smartphones and email) revolutionizes communication.
Significant events:
The dot-com bubble is in full force.
Out with memos and filing cabinets. in with a new technological age that starts to examine mindset and power.
Generation:
Millennials enter the workforce.
Books:
The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Media:
Technology:
Podcasts are born. Virtual and conference calling become popular.
Significant events:
• The dot-com bubble bursts.
• The housing market crashes.
Out with the individual focus, in with the focus on team collaboration and meaning.
Generation:
The Alpha generation is born (born 2010s–mid-2020s).
Books:
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Media:
The Big Short and The Social Network
Technology:
Social media becomes part of daily life.
Significant events:
2019, Mental Health is called out as a worldwide problem by the World Health Organization.
Workplace:
• Corporate DE&I initiatives start to become more popular.
• 2019, The term “power skills” appears. Power skills build upon soft skills (coined in the last century) to handle the mental agility needed to flex and adapt to ever-changing circumstances.
Out with a distinction between professional and personal personalities, in with a renewed focus on soft/power skills to transform workplaces through self-awareness, wellness, and authenticity.
www.sweetrush.com © 2022 SweetRush, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Generations (People), Accepted Beliefs, Trends, Media, Books, Technology, and Significant Events that Shaped the Workplace for Each Time Period
Workers faced long hours, poor working conditions, and job instability. A physical safety revolution starts examining the dangerous and working conditions in mines, railroads, factories, farms, and other industries of its time.
Generation:
The silent generation is born (1928–1945).
Books:
How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
Media:
Technology:
The radio gains popularity in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Significant events:
• 1914–1918: World War I
• 1929–1939: The Great Depression (U.S.)
• 1939–1945: World War II
Workplace:
• Both world wars impact labor markets significantly.
• World War II, in particular, created millions of jobs for women.
• Government agencies and corporations start to establish voluntary safety programs as well as child labor laws.
Out with the expectation of getting physically injured or using child labor, in with the dream of gaining power through an office job.
Generation:
Baby boomers are born (1946–1964).
The silent generation enters the workforce.
Books:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Media:
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
Technology:
More than half of American homes have televisions.
Workplace:
Elliott Jaques first introduces the concept of corporate culture in his 1951 book The Changing Culture of a Factory.
Generation:
The baby boomer generation enters the workforce.
Books:
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan (a major player in the feminist movement)
Business Adventures by John Brooks (a favorite of Warren Buffet)
Media:
Significant Events:
A worldwide series of political movements, known as Civil Rights, heightens. It looks to ensure that the rights of all people are equally protected by the law.
Workplace:
• The U.S. Army coins the phrase “soft skills” to differentiate from hard skills needed to work on machinery.
• The birth of the cubicle.
Out with the expectation of uniformity, in with the quest for equality.
Generation:
The Gen X is born (1965–1980).
Books:
Servant Leadership by Robert K. Greenleaf
Media:
Workplace:
1970, More Physical Safety: The US creates the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).
Out with the traditional power structures, in with a new landscape that includes more women and people of color.
Generation:
The Millennials are born (1980–2000).
Gen X enters the workforce.
Books:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Media:
9 to 5 and Wall Street
Workplace:
After being introduced during the 1950s in academia, the term “corporate culture” is collectively used and accepted in the business world.
Out with the slow and steady approach to success, in with the “greed is good” mindset and creation of the “yuppie.”
Generation:
The Gen Z is born (late 1990s–early 2010s)
Books:
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
Media:
Reality Bites and Office Space
Technology:
The birth of the internet (leading to smartphones and email) revolutionizes communication.
Significant events:
The dot-com bubble is in full force.
Out with memos and filing cabinets. in with a new technological age that starts to examine mindset and power.
Generation:
Millennials enter the workforce.
Books:
The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Media:
Technology:
Podcasts are born. Virtual and conference calling become popular.
Significant events:
• The dot-com bubble bursts.
• The housing market crashes.
Out with the individual focus, in with the focus on team collaboration and meaning.
Generation:
The Alpha generation is born (born 2010s–mid-2020s).
Books:
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Media:
The Big Short and The Social Network
Technology:
Social media becomes part of daily life.
Significant events:
2019, Mental Health is called out as a worldwide problem by the World Health Organization.
Workplace:
• Corporate DE&I initiatives start to become more popular.
• 2019, The term “power skills” appears. Power skills build upon soft skills (coined in the last century) to handle the mental agility needed to flex and adapt to ever-changing circumstances.
Out with a distinction between professional and personal personalities, in with a renewed focus on soft/power skills to transform workplaces through self-awareness, wellness, and authenticity.
