Diversity Inc.

Ongoing references to boomers, Gen X'ers and millennials are made in the workplace, but very little has been mentioned about 1.5ers—the generation of employees who immigrated to the United States with their families at a young age. Generation 1.5ers were born in one society but came of age in another. They're not as connected to the homeland as are their parents, the first generation, but they are definitely more connected than their American-born counterparts, the second generation.

Gen 1.5ers attended mainstream schools, speak with no accent and could easily pass as American-born. This generation of immigrants crosses all races and ethnicities. But they bring a unique set of skills to the workplace. Gen 1.5ers are "ethnic connectors"—connecting one generation to another, connecting generations to their ethnic roots, connecting generations to mainstream society and more. Their ability to bridge cultures in the acculturation process appears effortless. Employers would see great benefit by strategically capitalizing on these unique skills through diversity training and mentoring programs.

Tenacity & Teamwork

I emigrated from Canton, China, to America at the age of 6 and am a Gen 1.5er. I grew up in the back of a Chinese laundry where only Chinese was spoken, and Chinese traditions and values were respected above all else. My first-generation parents still do not speak English after 56 years. On the flip side, my second-generation children do not speak Chinese, having been raised in a home where only English was spoken and Western traditions and values were the norm. Bridging the two generations is something I've done for decades.

Asian Americans, influenced by the teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, are taught at a very young age to be disciplined and focused on whatever they do. The result is an enviable work ethic. One look at the totally synchronized performances of 15,000 Chinese during the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympics would challenge the skeptics among us. At a very young age, Asian children are expected to work at home and help with the family business. Everyone pitches in. For me, this work ethic translated into ironing handkerchiefs when I was 7 and graduating to ironing shirts when I was older, as well as cooking entire meals for the whole family when I was 8 years old.

Asian Americans approach business with a different frame of mind than Westerners. Focus is on the good of the group, as opposed to the good of the individual. Teamwork is the accepted approach to achieving goals, and the motto of "we all succeed if one succeeds" is engrained. As a group, Asian Americans are the ultimate savers and are frugal to a fault. As such, their fiscally conservative approach to financial management would complement a company's budgetary constraints during these harsh economic times.

Balancing Act

Raised in a group-oriented culture, Asian Americans are unlikely to adopt a victimized mentality when not selected for a job or promotion. They're more apt to look inward and blame themselves for not being good enough. Although the tendency to internalize is very Asian, Gen 1.5ers, because of their Western upbringing, moderate this impulse and have learned when to challenge the system.

Having grown up in America, Gen 1.5ers have the ability to find a middle ground with American ingenuity, individualism and assertiveness. They are highly skilled at weaving in and out of cultures and preserving the yin/yang in their professional and personal lives. Whether it's in our style of living, our actions taken or our choice of diet, Asian Americans are very aware of the importance of keeping harmony in check. Negotiating between two lifestyles on opposite ends of a spectrum is a constant balancing act.

Asian Americans are reminded of the need to "save face" and preserve family honor. Unavoidably, this instills in Asian Americans a strong sense of what I will refer to as Asian guilt. No matter how old we are, the sense of respecting elders and bonding with family is always there—and we are forever our parents' children. Even today, at the age of 62, when I go home to visit my parents, who are both in their 90s, I am secretly given spending money by both, unbeknownst to the other. Each of my parents feels a responsibility to take care of their daughter. Related, it is not unusual for unmarried children, no matter what age, to live at home with their parents while employed.

Of particular note is the evolution of Asian-American women in the workplace. After having been virtually nonexistent due to restrictive immigration laws, Asian women have managed to find success in the American workplace in a relatively short period of time and to overcome negative stereotypes that were prevalent not that long ago. Being Asian American and a woman is truly a powerful combination. The Asian qualities of discipline, impeccable work ethic, sense of honor and loyalty—coupled with more feminine qualities of compassion, fairness and multitasking—position Asian-American women for meeting today's workplace goals and for embracing their employers' commitment to the principles of compliance and diversity.

Asian Americans, particularly Gen 1.5ers, are not only exemplary employees, they're outstanding leaders and managers as well. They're uniquely qualified to provide balanced perspectives in decision making, employee supervision and visionary leadership—with humility and a positive attitude. In this time of globalization, their ability to cross cultures and navigate diverse issues positions them as ideal examples of America's global citizens. Valuing these experiences and encouraging the unique contributions of the Generation 1.5 individual benefits us all.

Ginny Gong served as national president for OCA, a pan-Asian organization with 81 chapters/affiliates nationwide, for four terms. Under her leadership, OCA became the first national Asian-American organization to have a permanent presence in the nation's capital. Gong currently sits on its executive board in an advisory capacity, serves as director for the Office of Community Use of Public Facilities in Montgomery County, Md., and recently published "From Ironing Board to Corporate Board: My Chinese Laundry Experience in America." For more than 11 years, she has also hosted the weekly cable-TV talk show "Ginny's ... where East meets West."