Lhe representations of young people’s views on work are the subject of numerous publications tending to disseminate ideas, images and portraits of this population that are, to say the least, contrasting.
A first vision, positive and offensive, associates them with an exhilarating model, a symbol of hope and transformation and therefore supposedly distinct from that of their elders, conservative and overwhelmed by the changes in work.
Another, darker, but no less tenacious version tends to describe them as individualistic, disengaged or materialistic. They would no longer give as important and central a place as their elders to work, and would consider it as utilitarian and instrumental, even devoid of “meaning”; finally, they would be resistant to the hierarchical relationship of authority in the organization.
But these widely publicized representations are questionable to say the least. Several studies had already warned about these stereotypes (“To put an end to generation Y… investigation into managerial representation”François Pichault and Mathieu Pleyers, Annals of Mines. Manage and understandno. 108, 2012). The authors noted that “the supposed particularities of this generation [Y] are thin, at least when it comes to the attitudes and values of its members at work”.
Stubborn prejudices
Likewise, the synthesis of around twenty works focused on differences at work covering four generations and around 20,000 people, concludes “that there are probably no significant differences between generations for the variables examined” (“Generational Differences in Work-Related Attitudes: A Meta-analysis”David Costanza, Jessica Badger, Rebecca Fraser, Jamie Severt and Paul Gade, Journal of Business and Psychologyn° 27/4, 2012).
However, the context has evolved significantly in the more recent period: the pandemic and its differentiated effects on teleworking practices, conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, the acceleration of the impacts of the global climate crisis, etc., have Did they change the situation?
Two recent studies confirm that these are indeed stubborn prejudices (Young people, workers like any otherby Suzy Canivenc, Presses des Mines, 2024; “Relationship to work. Far from stereotypes, workers under 30 are motivated and committed to their professional development”, Terra Nova and Apec, February 2024).
They convincingly demonstrate that young workers are as invested and committed as their elders in their relationship to work – “47% consider it more or as important as other areas of life versus (…) 36% of those aged 45 and over ».
You have 38.56% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.