01/08/2015 jlv/cu/kb

HAYS, Kan. -- "Generations in the Workplace" will be the first workshop offered this spring by the Management Development Center at Fort Hays State University.

This event will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28, in the FHSU Memorial Union's Stouffer Lounge. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to leverage the talents and experience of others, regardless of their age.

Ruth Bealer, director of human resources for Adams Brown Beran & Ball, will facilitate.

"Generational diversity, and the communication gaps associated with it, can create difficult obstacles to overcome in the workplace," said Sabrina William, director of the MDC. "This workshop provides solutions to these obstacles by finding common workplace needs across generations and developing ways to overcome age-based stereotypes."

The workshop is designed to provide participants with a more thorough understanding of the four generations that contribute to today's workforce and how their interactions can affect work productivity. Recent studies highlight key similarities across age groups in terms of motivations and values.

Needless age stereotyping, overgeneralization from isolated examples, and even prejudice and discrimination toward both older and younger workers, create tensions among generations.

Each person who completes the workshop will receive a completion certificate. The cost is $119. The MDC asks that applicants register before Jan. 22. Hays Area Chamber of Commerce members are eligible for a 15-percent discount.

FHSU's Management Development Center is recognized by the Society for Human Resource Management to offer professional development credits (PDC) for the SHRM Certified Professional or Senior Certified Professional credentials. This program is valid for three PDCs for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. For more information about certification or re-certification, please visit www.shrm.org/certification.

To learn more about this workshop or to receive discount codes, contact Conni Dreher by phone at 785-628-4121 or by email at cdreher@fhsu.edu. Registration is also available online at www.fhsu.edu/mdc.