MANAGEMENT Labor Issues Between the Generations The team at Moss Greenhouses aims to find capable individuals to do the job and show up every day - here's how they do it. By Jennifer Moss A s a 1985 baby, I fall into two categories: millennial and Generation X. This didn't seem like much of a concern as I was entering the workforce. I recall being grouped as " entitled and lazy " by the older generation at the time and scoffing at such a presumption that my work would be viewed this way, regardless of the aptitude and work ethic I brought to the table. Hindsight is often 20/20 as I find there to be a trend that every younger generation is thought to be less than the former. Today, as a hiring manager and upcoming ownership (my brother and I are the fourth generation of family ownership) at Moss Greenhouses, we are battling the same labor battles as any other company in the world. It is as if you are paying more for less just like at the grocery store. We just don't have the bodies to do the jobs because other industries can offer more, and the work isn't as hard. 46 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | MARCH 2023 Today's workforce is more diverse than we have ever seen, providing many opportunities and challenges for any owner or hiring manager. I love to turn challenges into opportunities. My staff would be the first to tell you I love to make them uncomfortable because that is where growth happens. That goes for anyone of any age. So how do we do the best job with the people we have from each generation? I want to provide a workplace in which people look forward to coming to work. We spend more time with the people we work with day-to-day than our own families. Why not make that environment fun and uplifting? Our goal is to find capable individuals to do the job and show up every day. The older generation in the workforce has the experience, but they are starting to find their exit strategies and stage retirement plans. This is the time we need to use their knowledge to prepare ourselves for the next shift. The millennial and Gen Z, following Gen X, speak a different