Expanding the Younger Worker Employment Relationship

Abstract

This article aims to expand understanding of managing younger workers by making work values central to their employment relationship. Attention is focused on values-based organizations where intrinsic values of societal contribution, work-life balance, and inclusive management practices may take on added significance for younger workers. Asking younger workers to explain what "success" or "efficiency" means to them in their work provides a window into the values-based reasoning underpinning younger workers' work-related attitudes and behavior. Person-organization values fit findings suggest areas where the younger worker employment relationship has possibly expanded (prosocial work, direct communication, managers as mentors, work-life balance). Implications for managing younger workers in values-based contexts are discussed. Show more