Offline: The possible effects of Internet-related behavior on work values, expectations, & behavior among Ultra-Orthodox millennials

ABSTRACT

This work examines differences in the work-related values, expectations, and behaviors between millennials who are significant users of technology and social media, and those who are not. We delineate the development of millennial behavior using a unique group of millennials, those in the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish (known as “Haredi”) community in Israel. Due to religious and community norms, many Haredi millennials were shielded from digital technology, and particularly the Internet and the various technologies associated with it, such as text messaging and social media. Those who were raised and remained in Haredi communities did not encounter the Internet with any regularity as children. Many as adults are still unfamiliar with social media. Thus, this community presents a unique natural experiment, comparing Haredi millennials who are immersed in social media with those who are not.

KEYWORDS:

• Work attitudes
• Millennials
• Social Media
• Israel
• Religion at the workplace

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Haredi is the term with which Ultra-Orthodox Jews, and others, typically refer to Ultra-Orthodox segments. Haredim is the plural form for people who belong to a Haredi group. The terms comes from the Hebrew “to tremble” before God.

2. This includes 50 participants who answered most but not all of the questions. They were included in the analyses of the questions they answered.

3. The average age of Haredi social media users only includes the 31% of Haredi participants who use social media.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Avi Kay

Avi Kay is engaged in research regarding work-related attitudes and values, with a focus on the juxtaposition of religion and the work place and Business Ethics. He teaches Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior and Business Ethics at the Jerusalem College of Technology and is a Library Research Fellow at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute.

Livia Levine

Livia Levine, PhD researches digital business ethics and negotiations. She primarily focuses her research on how technology adaptation changes individuals and their relationships. Livia teaches business strategy and organizational behavior at the Jerusalem College of Technology. She received her PhD in business ethics from Wharton and now lives in Jerusalem, Israel with her husband and three children.