Bridging the Generational Gap: How to Unite Gen Z and Baby Boomers for Workplace Success

A Northamptonshire early careers expert is leading a unique drive to unite Gen Z and Baby Boomers together at work.

Helen Russell, from The Right Track Consultancy, has seen a rising demand from local business leaders to help bridge the divide between the county's workforce.

As the state pension age and cost of living have both risen, workplaces are becoming more age‑diverse than ever.

Many generations are now working side-by-side, leading to senior managers wanting to understand from Helen how to engage different age groups effectively for business success.

Helen said: “Today’s workforce spans more generations than ever before and National Careers Week is a timely moment for employers to look at how they build multigenerational teams that bring Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers together effectively.

“The vast range of ages gives businesses a great mix of ideas and experience to draw from but people don’t always communicate or work in the same way, so it’s easy for things to get lost in translation if those differences aren’t understood.

“Sometimes assumptions about age shape the way decisions are made and even who gets certain opportunities. Part of the work is helping teams spot those generational biases and giving them practical ways to reduce them.”

Helen has been working with young people for almost 20 years in college and teaching settings.

She now works with employers to make sure they’re making the right hire among apprentices and graduates to plug their skills gaps.

She added: “Qualifications have changed so much and Gen Z embraces different skills when it comes to digital, AI and the use of technology.

“Often employers say to me 'that's not how I did it in my day’ but time has moved on and we are here to help businesses understand how new qualifications young people are learning at college or university can enhance their organisation.”

As well as working with employers to make sure they are early career ready, a big part of Helen’s job is also talking about career opportunities to young people who are thinking about what they want to do as a job.

She added: “If I can give any young person one bit of advice it will always be ‘it doesn’t matter if you don’t know what you want to do, just go and do something, whether that’s a year in retail or hospitality’.

“What employers are looking for now is experience. So, I’d advise young people to get out there in the world of employment and learn to work and communicate as a team and work under pressure.

“It’s much easier then for young people to understand what they do and don’t like - and why not test it out while getting paid and learning the value of money.”