Generational Differences and COVID-19: Positive Interactions in Virtual Workplaces

ABSTRACT

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic which caused many businesses around the world to move to online or virtual workplaces (Center for Disease Control, 2020), intergenerational tensions may be exacerbated leading to communication breakdowns. There are many challenges in moving an intergenerational workplace online such as an overreliance on generational labels in guiding interactions, negative perceptions of technology usage of particular age groups, and biased perspectives regarding different age groups’ willingness to change. A resulting potential lack of intergenerational interactions will cause a breakdown in knowledge transfer as well as less efficient and productive workplaces (Urick, 2019). This paper analyzes online workplaces through the lens of generational research to provide recommendations related to social identity/self-categorization theories, transformational leadership, change management, goal setting theory, and knowledge transfer. These recommendations encourage positive online intergenerational interactions so that organizations can continue as closely to “business as usual” despite being thrust into a crisis.