Kerehoma 'Kere' Hetaraka, 21, and Adam Jamieson, 51, have worked together for four years at the Glen Hotel in Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane. This relationship exemplifies a contemporary trend in workplace culture where different generations interact.
Generational Interactions in the Workplace
A recent social media trend has featured younger workers engaging with older colleagues in videos, often highlighting work relationships. These interactions are noted by workers and experts as potentially influencing workplace culture and offering learning opportunities.
Mr. Jamieson noted that his four years of working with Mr. Hetaraka have provided educational insights for both individuals. He indicated gaining an understanding of younger generations' approaches to emotional expression, contrasting with methods common in his own generation. This mutual interaction was described as contributing to both individuals' emotional intelligence.
Research on Intergenerational Benefits
Associate Professor Chad Chiu from the University of Queensland Business School stated that research supports the benefits of intergenerational relationships. Professor Chiu cited the 'strength of weak ties' theory, suggesting that individuals derive greater benefits from connections with those different from themselves, including in terms of age, gender, or race.
He added that these relationships can be beneficial for career development and business performance. Studies indicate that well-established networks correlate with improved performance, higher creativity levels, and increased willingness for sustained collaboration.
Industry Age Diversity
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), hospitality is a prominent industry for young employees. As of November 2025, approximately 482,000 individuals aged 15 to 24 were employed in accommodation and food services, while 131,000 workers in the same industry were over 50.
Conversely, data indicates that healthcare and social assistance, along with education and training, demonstrate higher age diversity. Healthcare and social assistance reported the most age diversity, with substantial worker numbers across nearly all age brackets and a total of over 2.3 million employees. Education and training, with 1.3 million employees, ranked second in age diversity.
Professor Chiu identified age diversity as a significant characteristic of the modern Australian workforce, noting that the rising retirement age, now at 67, extends individuals' time in employment. His research on workplace inclusion indicates minimal variance in job performance and attitudes across different age groups. He stated that evidence suggests more commonalities than differences among generations, recommending a focus on individuals rather than generational labels.
Mr. Jamieson suggested that overcoming generational gaps involves understanding different perspectives, such as older generations engaging with social media platforms popular among younger individuals, and vice versa.