The Mismatch between Individual Values and Organizational Values among Different Generations in the Workplace

Abstract

Different generations of employees have different characteristics and values that make them unique. Currently, there are four generations of employees at the workplace: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. Millennials and Generation Z employees are said to be less loyal. The question is whether the incompatibility of their values and those of the organization makes them less faithful to their organization warrants further investigation. Therefore, the study's objective is to investigate the mismatch between individual values and those of the organization among different generations in the workplace. A focus group discussion (FGD) involving representatives from public and private organizations was organized. The input from the FGD was analyzed using content analysis, and the findings indicate that Millennial and Generation Z employees have differing values that should be given considerable attention by management, which is mainly represented by Generation X. Managerial and research implications are provided in the paper.