Exploring the Concept of Work Across Generations

Abstract

This study, conducted in Delhi, India, and National Capital Regions, India, unravels the different concepts of work held by two generations of workers (preliberalization India, ages 47–58, and postliberalization India, ages 24–34). In the context of social constructionist theory, responses from in-depth, unstructured interviews of 18 people (9 people from each generation) indicate that participants across the two generations have attached diverse meanings to the concept of work. At the same time, there has been a shift in the meaning of work. For both generations, the nature of work is of high importance, and people show deep levels of identification to its meaning for them. However, the concept of work–life balance, often associated as a desire of younger generations of workers, is no longer restricted to them. Members of the older generation have started giving importance to maintaining work–life balance in their lives. The results of this study have implications for human resources policy and workplace interventions. Organizations need to acknowledge the existence of generational differences in the concept of work while formulating diversity-based policies. They must also be attuned to trends, such as the desire for work–life balance that crosses generations.

Keywords:

• work
• intergenerational differences
• social constructionism

Notes

1. Rationale behind taking two years of association with the organization is that an individual does take time to identify with the organization and the kind of work he or she is supposed to do.

2. The study adopting an interactive approach should focus on personality factors, basic attitudes and values, and antecedents from personal history and development as well as personal environmental conditions and macro social indicators.