Five generations now share the same workplace—and the headlines say we’re in constant conflict. We take a scalpel to that narrative with Matt Cook, co‑founder at culture consultancy The Shift, and trace where friction really comes from: life stage, economic context, and mismatched signals of value, not innate differences in work ethic. From the ancient “youth are lazy” gripe to today’s debates about remote work and Slack etiquette, we unpack the myths and get to the mechanics of how modern teams actually function.
Matt walks us through the changing markers of ambition in a digital world where output can be created in bursts and presenteeism is a poor compass. We explore the power flip inside organisations—formal authority often sits with senior leaders while crucial digital expertise lives with newer hires—and how that tension can either stall progress or spark innovation. The key, we argue, is to legitimise where the expertise is, grant decision rights to match, and remove the blockers that keep good ideas from moving.
Communication becomes the proving ground. We offer a simple framework: define what each channel means, set response expectations, and write the full ask up front to support asynchronous work. We also address the post‑pandemic soft‑skills gap and share practical ways to rebuild confidence in phone calls, direct feedback, and difficult conversations. Rather than adding rigid policies, we advocate for clear principles and flexible application, so teams can honour different needs without losing coherence.
To make the benefits real, we highlight reverse mentoring as a two‑way learning engine and the role of storytelling in spreading evidence of intergenerational wins—from enterprise examples to research‑led breakthroughs. The takeaway is straightforward: see the person, not the stereotype, while staying alert to the contexts that shape them. Subscribe for more candid, practical conversations on culture, and tell us: what’s one principle you’d set to make collaboration across ages easier?

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This video is published by Trish Hewitt of Haylo HR HR. The information in this video is for general guidance only and, although the presenter believes it was correct at the time it was recorded (September 2025), the law may have changed since then. You should always seek your own legal advice. This advice adheres to employment law within England, Scotland and Wales.