agework@bc.edu 1 mind the gap u.s. employee november 2008 mind the gap u.s. employee november 2008 introduction Organizations that want to remain employers-of-choice must periodically assess how shifts in the business environment might affect the effectiveness of their talent man- agement strategies, policies and programs. Globalization and changes in the age com- position of the workforce - two important 21st century trends that have affected today’s businesses - make it important for mangers to consider: How does age affect employees’ preferences for an idealized job and  their assessments of their employment experiences? Do employees’ perceptions of their employment experiences vary  from country to country? Tay McNamara, Ph.D. , Ariane Ollier-Malaterre, Ph.D., and Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Ph.D. In this paper, we examine the preferences and perceptions of young adult employees, employees at midlife, and older employees in the U.S. about the quality of their employment experiences. Other papers in this series summarize similar analyses of data from coun- tries around the world. What does “mind the gap” mean? Train stations across England play re- corded messages to remind passengers that they should “Mind the gap.” These words of caution urge train travelers to pay attention to the space between the door of the train car and the platform in the station. We use the phrase, “Mind the Gap” to remind employers to pay attention to any gaps that might exist between the access that employees of different age groups have to quality employment. employer employee perspectives United States