Are Work Attitudes of Generations Myth or Real? Evidence from the United States and Turkey

Year 2020, Volume: 49 Issue: 2, 248 - 270, 30.11.2020

Sait Gurbuz Ihsan Aytekin

https://doi.org/10.26650/ibr.2020.49.0031

Abstract

Despite the increased attention paid to generational differences especially from practitioners and the popular press, systematic and empirical intergenerational research has been scarce, is largely North American centric, and lacks consistent results. The present study aimed to fill this gap by examining whether differences exist among generations in their key work and organizational attitudes, personal values, and work ethic values in the United States and Turkey. Survey data were gathered from 1019 employees (427 from the U.S. and 592 from Turkey). We found little evidence supporting substantive and significant generational differences or their association with key outcome variables. Furthermore, the U.S. originated classification of generations cannot be generalized to the Turkish business context.

Keywords

Generational differences, Work attitudes, Work ethics, Cohorts

Supporting Institution

This work was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under Grant 2219.

Project Number

Grant 2219

Thanks

The authors would likThe authors would like to thank Prof. Robert Costigan for data collection and his helpful comments on earlier draft of this manuscript.e to thank Prof. Robert Costigan for data collection and his helpful coThe authors would like to thank Prof. Robert Costigan for data collection and his helpful comments on earlier draft of this manuscript.mments on earlier draft of this manuscript.

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