The Effects of Employee Voice and Delight on Job Satisfaction and Behaviors: Comparison Between Employee Generations

Abstract

The need for better understanding of Generation Y (Gen Y) employees is becoming vital for the success of the hospitality industry. This study is designed to examine the relationships of employee voice, delight, satisfaction, loyalty, and turnover intent between Gen Y employees and older employees within a hospitality business environment. Two hotels, independently owned and operated in the Midwest, were selected for this study; and survey data were collected through a self-administered paper survey. The findings indicate that Gen Y employees showed lower values of voice, delight, satisfaction, and loyalty than did their older counterparts, while their turnover intent was greater. The findings of this study can provide new and valuable insights into the understanding of Gen Y employees and will be useful for managers as it provides timely implications for developing more effective management strategies and practices.

KEYWORDS:

• behaviors
• delight
• employee voice
• Gen Y
• hotel industry
• satisfaction