Sense of commitment: A study of values through the prism of four generations

Résumé 0

In this period of economic slowdown, the question of the meaning of employee commitment has taken on greater importance. However, we do not know the commitment values of different generations of employees (baby boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z). A qualitative interview method using a sample of 60 people is used to find out their commitment values (vigor, dedication, and absorption). In terms of vigor, the baby boomers and Generation X surveyed value self-control, whereas Generation Y and Z place greater value on empathy. Belonging and work are values of dedication and absorption common to the four generations interviewed. However, their properties differ. While our findings confirm the generational imprint on values, above all they reveal a shift from the meaning “of” work (relationship to tasks) to meaning “at” work (relationship to others). At the end of a discussion, we propose an attempt to model the sense of commitment of different generations of employees before concluding with the limitations of the research and future perspectives.