Generational Shifts: Values, Work Ethic, and the Impact of Technology on Today's Workforce

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Generational Shifts: Values, Work Ethic, and the Impact of Technology onToday's WorkforceValues may be self-governing, but they do change with time. The link betweenpersonality, values, and work ethic is difficult to decipher. Your basic makeup iswith youin every situation, especially in your organization. Have your values changed as youhave matured, or have they stayed the same? Do you have different values than yourparents or siblings? How do values affect the cohesiveness of the workplace?When you think about values, consider your values around work, play, time, and qualityof life. Do some research and reflection here. Are the differencesbetween generationsand work expectations vastly different? What are some changing values that come tomind?What are some values thatguide your performance every day? Can you give examples ofthose in action?Our text authorstalked about 'right fit' when it comes to people and organizations. Whyis this importantfor retention andorganizational success?Q1 As of the guard changes...Professor Ridinger8/30/2012 7:23:20 PMWhen you think about values, consider your values around work, play, time, and quality of life. Do someresearch and reflection here. Are the differences between generations and work expectations vastlydifferent? What are some changing values that come to mind?

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RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Mitsie Rowe9/19/2012 9:45:59 PMIt is said that each generation have some form of attributes that can be used to identify the group theybelong to, apart from their age;Perceived membership:The self-perception of membership within a generation that begins duringadolescence and coalesces during young adulthood.Common beliefs and behaviors:The attitudes (toward family, career, personal life, politics, religion, etc.)and behaviors (choices made in regard to jobs, marriage, children, health, crime, sex, drugs, etc.) thatcharacterize a generation.Common location in history: The turning points in historical trends (e.g., from liberal to conservativepolitics) and significant events (e.g., the Vietnam War) that occur during a generation’s formative years(adolescence and young adulthood).These attributes are indication to me that there would be some difference in generation and workexpectations. I am considered to be from Generation X, my daughter Net generation and my mom BabyBoomer. Although we are from same culture I find we not only view things differently but we actuallyhave different expectations in regards to work. I read an article online by University of Georgia titled "Dgenerational differences matters in instructional design" included was a table I found most interestingwhich I will share.http://itforum.coe.uga.edu/Paper104/ReevesITForumJan08.pdf

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RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Bobby VanGilder9/19/2012 8:10:24 PMThe first thing that comes to mind here are the expectations of work between younger and oldergenerations. Having worked in a variety of industries and with a vast array of people, I've noticed thatthe older generation (40-60) tend to be more serious at work and want to get their work done with littledistractions as possible. However, the younger generation (18-35) seem to like to socialize and are morerelaxed with their work ethics. This is especially true in the IT industry with the majority of us being 22-30 years old. (We have a nerf basketball hoop in our office, for example).RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Mohamed Aghrissa9/18/2012 10:58:22 PMEach generation has a different approach to how it views the workplace. The Silent Generation tendedto conform and not question authority; 95 percent of this generation, by the way, has already retired,although some remain in high-level positions. The baby boomers, the group that is now running mostcompanies, tend to very optimistic and idealistic. They are typically overachievers and work long hours.RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Gena Woods9/18/2012 10:15:12 PMMy family has always had a strong work ethic. Work hard-play hard. I am similar in that way. I havenoticed that job security is seemingly non existent anymore. I am a loyal employee that is not always"shopping around" for a new job while I am in my job. The jobs I am referring are jobs that I had hopedto move up and stay until retirement. Nowadays it seems that people are getting laid off right beforethey hit retirement… this makes me nervous to dedicate myself to one place. It makes me want to startmy own business so I can control it somehow. People who work at a job are so replaceable it seems.Much like a number, when yours comes up it is time to exit. Many generations ago, women were lookeddown upon if they worked. Even before that they were not allowed to have official work. They couldcook and clean, but anything more than that was not allowed. After women's rights and all the otherraces began being seen as equal, there were more people out in the workforce and many who did notwant to do manual labor, but wanted to do something more prestigious. More different types of peopleare going to college in hopes of the American Dream. I have lost sight of the American dream. I have toomuch information and too many paths to choose from it seems impossible for a kid in a candy store tofocus on one kind of candy when inundated with options. In the past, most sons would do what theirdad did. If his dad was a banker then he would be a banker. My values generally follow the Bible's moral

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code. I was raised with it, but I have reinterpreted it for myself and the life I can see. I believe peopleshould work hard as if they own the company, but unfortunately the company does not treat theiremployees as such. This is a hard question and one that I will continue to think about . I am in a strangeplace in my life as I am almost 40 and having to retrain in a different work field because I am injured andit will not get better. I feel betrayed by the company who fired me after I became disabled working forthem all evening fixing their network. My values haven't changed a lot over time, but my bubble waspopped as I had thought of myself there until I retired.People still appreciate an honest worker. It is something that people can see and feel no matter the eraor generation. Having a set of great values is timeless and all people with good values like to haveothers around with good values…. But figuring out who has good values is difficult.RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Professor Ridinger9/23/2012 7:50:46 PMDoing a solid, honest job in any professional activity usually reduces unwanted stress and worry. Greatvalues that are timeless across generations are regarded as human virtues.RE: Q1 As of theguard changes...Cristina Lopez9/18/2012 7:54:02 PMI will say that the values are not the ones that changes I think what it changes is the people and theirbelieves or their attitude to develop work, things at home or with friends. For instance some years agowe didn't have so much technology that now we have and makes everything easier. For example at workmostly was done manually, you had to track your work hrs in a paper as well as making reports manuallyof work, now you could one report in the computer and send it via email to multiple persons which savetime. With family, if you had family far away to get contacted with them you had to make letters nowthere is many ways to communicate with them. The values and beliefs doesn't change, what it change isthe way we do things.

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RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Roger Smith9/18/2012 5:28:54 PMMy Perception of Generation values. Yes there is a big difference in generations from Boomers to the Zgeneration. I am lucky had have two complete sets of generation children. I see differences in both.Remembering my grandparents, parents, children and now grandchildren I see big changes in how theworld is perceived. The work ethic and compassions of others too have changed. A generation of theearly 1900’s was a lot more stringent than that of today. I think this is in part due to technologyadvances that allow a person to work smarter, not harder. Generations of the early 1900 have had a lotof manual labor about them; while today we rely on computers and machines to do all the hard work.A lot of this change is a result of advancements in technology, which is making the world seem smallerand more competitive. There are numerous ways to communicate today than there was during the timeof my grandparents.RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Professor Ridinger9/23/2012 7:28:09 PMYes, we have come a very long way in the past few generations since the Freudian era (late 1800's-early1900's). Each generation inherits and creates their own driving and sustaining core values out ofnecessity. Additionally, every generation essentially faces a new dynamic world with challenges bothsmall and large never encountered before. The overarching culture helps to keep the inhabitants movingalong the collective course with a sense of purpose.RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Corey Miller9/18/2012 2:45:02 PMWell mostly they are the same, at least in a customer service job. At work, you pretty much want toalways be nice to your customers and coworkers and hopefully they are always happy and are happywhen they leave. Same as at home, you want to try and keep the homelife in a good standing, nice tofamily and friends, organized, etc.

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RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Quame Tyson9/18/2012 3:27:19 PMI would have to say the values throughout time has changed. Not a whole heap but there are a fewthings, to me, that my generation does differently. I tend to think about my grandmother when thissubject comes up. She was the record keeper for my high school and from when I was young, I realizedthat back then being computer savvy wasn't as important as it is now but despite that her way ofaccomplishing tasks given to her was more driven and dedicated to me anyway. Now today with mygeneration at least I feel like we are mainly about just getting it done more than the experience and carethat should be put into it.RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Brittany Bergstedt9/21/2012 11:54:24 PMYour absolutely right social values havechanged from generation; this is evident by the technologicalchanges your grandmother had to endure being the record keeper.I also think sexual values have changed; now on any given TV show you can see sex portrayed freely. Justa decade ago I love Lucy showed their characters sleeping in separate beds, and displayed moreconservative family values than in today’s society.RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Carissa Cardona9/18/2012 7:12:35 PMQuame I agree. I think that today we put more of a focus on rushing around and getting things donerather than taking our time and focusing on our quality of life. I feel that our workforce has been morefocused on production and efficiency rather than taking the proper amount of time to do somethingproperly and produce a top of the line product. However, I do also feel that we are starting to changeour focus again. In my professional life we are focusing on how we can work smarter. Eliminating extra

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steps and redundant tracking so that we have more time to invest in our customers and making suretheir needs are met.~CarissaRE: Q1 As of the guard changes...John Bailey9/18/2012 6:07:56 AMI believe that the differences between generations and work expectations, quite honestly are not vastlydifferent. These differences may actually seem to vary immensely, but the way I see it is that now its justsought and achieved at a higher level. In the past people worked hard to be able to relax whereas now itseems that people still work harder and longer, but they also play harder and longer. Interms of values Ibelieve that back then it was more about quality whereas now it seems to be more a quantity basedeconomy.RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Professor Ridinger9/21/2012 8:21:46 AMI agree. In most cultures, the generational differences in values and conduct are more often in stylerather than in kind.RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Brenda Houston9/18/2012 10:16:22 PMThis reminds me of a conversation I was having with a friend of mine the other day. He was talkingabout an episode of Mountain Men where this guy that looked like the typical hillbilly was living in themountains, but was totally self-sufficient. He had devised a pumping system to pump water through apipeline that went into his house to provide fresh water for him. It even had a filtration system madefrom the natural resources available. The stream powered a saw mill so that he could build whatever heneeded and also provided electricity for his home. My friend was saying that this guy was really smart tohave been able to do all this. I told him, what we do not realize, anymore is that back in the old days,

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people had to be multi-talented. In order to survive, a farmer had to be able to know how to water hiscrops, get water to his house, and find the resources to maintain a family. It was a necessity, and Schoolwas not the focus of a young person's life, as they learned more from working the land with their familythan in a school. Today, we have developed a society that has forgotten how to be self-sufficient. Wehave reached a point to where everything is so specialized, that we have to be inter-dependent forsurvival. We depend on schools to educate our youth and then them going to college to specialize insome field to make their contribution. Part of this is due to technology, but part is also due to peoplewanting to be individuals.RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Anabel Arteaga9/19/2012 11:45:06 AMthat is really true people are not self sufficient nowadays they expect things to be done already forthem, they expect not to think because someone else will do it for them. A long time ago people eveloptechnology to help us but in some ways it has actually hinder us a bit.RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Michael Duru9/17/2012 10:56:31 PMIt's important to know what personal values we want to achieve in life, on and off the job. i alwaysprefer to be a determine and a goal getter at work. i put all my heart in my career because i am sopassionate about it thats what drives me forward and earn me my position ranking at work. the mostimportant thing to me his my family.i want the freedom and flexibility of a single life and all the rewardsof a loving spouse and children.RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Michael Estel9/17/2012 6:47:44 AMI feel as though I was brought up with pretty good values in life and it has made a big difference in mywork environment because I work hard and get rewarded for my efforts. I think that there are a lot ofdifferences between generations such as ideas, values, methods of getting things done, and

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communication. For employers, this makes it more difficult in training and producing motivationaltechniques that can be applied to all of the varied generations in gaining positive results.http://www.fdu.edu/newspubs/magazine/05ws/generations.htmRE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Jennifer Paschal9/17/2012 11:14:55 AMI have a strong work ethic, I give more than is expected and I go the extra mile. I work with integrity,doing the right thing even when no one is watching. I am loyal to my company and respectful toauthority. My mother never worked. My brother and I have adopted the work ethics of my father. Wework hard, we take pride in a job well done, and we dont ask for recognition we just do it because it isthe right thing to do and it represents me. I will tell you that the new work force want everything fornothing. They feel a sense of entitlement that makes me angry. Many workers today feel we owe it tothem to provide them with hours and benefits no matter how lazy they are or what kind of work theyproduce. Many years ago people worked for their companies a lifetime, retired with tenure andpensions. These days people jump ship when times get tough, they are just not invested in their careers.(relationships and loyalty have changed completely the past few decades.)RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Professor Ridinger9/18/2012 2:21:39 PMA helpful vignette for all of us Jennifer. Taking stock in yourself from time to time is worth doing. Itprovides a centering attitude for a moderately high level of general motivation.A "strong work ethic" is about a personcommitting to professionalism in both words and deeds for therole taken. The standards required for the work at hand become, at a minimum, one's own.

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RE: Q1 As of the guard changes...Anabel Arteaga9/17/2012 2:48:03 PMI really do think that there is a difference when it comes to work ethic between generations.I have astrong work ethic and I can see that some of the people I work with who are younger don't really workas hard but still expect to get everything. I can even say that I have seen it in my family, my unclesworked long hours, no benefits low pay and my cousins complain about working a part time job or a jobthat is 9-5 and good income. They complain about silly things, call in sick or expect to get a raise or abonus, even though they don't try to do more than what is expected.Well I think a changing value is work ethic, people want everything for nothing, they want the nice paywith none of the work. I also think a value that has changed is honesty in people it seems that peopleare more prone to be deceiving. I mean you can see that has caused a lot of problems in companies notbeing truthful to people and just to make a quick dollar.Your personality and valuesJohn Bailey9/16/2012 3:33:31 PMI believe that in myself, my values have stayed the same as I have matured. With the way my parents areI would say that I have actually adopted their values. My siblings on the other hand seem to have adifferent set of values. Values could affect the workplace negatively by having counteracting valueswhich could lead to horrible production. The positive side is that you could have a high productivity andquality.ValuesRyan Cisowski9/17/2012 3:38:47 PMTo be honest for me, I m not sure if they have changed per say. I think they might have evolved andgotten stronger. Things like family and friends have only become more important to me as I have gottenolder.My relationship with my sister especially has gotten stronger I think now that we are both in our20's and have matured a bit.

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RE: ValuesProfessor Ridinger9/18/2012 2:26:56 PMYes, as we evolve down our developmental path in life, so do some of our guiding values. We tend tobecome less self-centered and more concerned about the wants and needs of others along the way. Theappreciation for the joy of giving back to others remains a virtue for the maturing self.RE: ValuesJennifer Paschal9/18/2012 7:55:54 PMYes I actually just gave notice and will start a new job OCt. 1. My only reason for leaving my currentposition is for more time with my family. Same job, same pay just less hours in the private sector vscorporate. I would never have gone private when I was younger. But now the time with my family iswhat I cherish.RE: ValuesJose Lopez9/19/2012 12:02:32 PMI'm actually going through a similar situation, where I work I work second shift and this past month Ihave been trying to go to first shift by applying any position even though the pay is less but as long as Iget to move to first in order so I could spent time with my family in the afternoon the pay doesn'tmatter.RE: ValuesCristina Lopez9/19/2012 3:15:10 PMMy values that my parents teach me were to be honest, responsible and always do what I think will helpme to success. The values they teach me have help me to be a responsible person, be honest and haverespect for other. These values help me in my work because I could respect someone else ideas and tobe responsible which have help me to keep improving in my job. In my personal life I am trying to share

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the same values to my kinds, I want them to be responsible and honest as well as to have respect forothers. I want them to succeed in life.RE: ValuesRyan Cisowski9/18/2012 4:45:29 PMFunny you say that, when christams time rolls around I think about cool gift ideas for others now andwhen people ask me what I want I just say surprise me.RE: ValuesMitsie Rowe9/20/2012 9:51:09 PMI totally agree with you Professor, at one of my previous job as a CNA we had such bad situation at workhat after awhile I felt like a failure and hated the system so much I left. When I first started working allseem well and I was really excited, after about six month we were informed that there would be achange in management. The new Director had a meeting with us he seem so concerned about what wasreally happening on the floors that I was impress. Shortly after I notice changes: there were alwaysshortage of materials to work with. Sometimes I had to walk from the first to seventh floor at nightslooking for things like: sheets, blanket, and chucks, there were signs in the storage rooms "two pack ofwash cloth to a CNA" (one CNA had 19 patient). Worst of all we had to wake the residents at 4am tostart washing, some were taken out of bed as early as 5 am and place in chairs in the dinning room (I feltso bad especially when it was cold, and they protested however it was a choice between pleasing themor management)These were some of the situation that had me frustrated, some of my co-workers reaction was "Icannot make bread out of stone so am working with what am given". I always ask myself ' what if youwere in their position, how would I want to be treated?" I knew These residents could have gottenbetter care, and I was prepared to do so but my hands were tied. Then Management would havemeeting after meetings and we would explain our frustration but all we got were promises that wasnever kept. I left that job and went to work where I was getting $8.95 less, but my work load was lighter,I had adequate material to work with and enough time to socialize with the patients after and duringcare. Maturity do bring selflessness, and I believe healthcare is for people with hearts. We have lostsight of what is important, and have commercialize heath care in such a way that in most situation itsmore about the bottom-line than Wellness.

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Personality and ValuesRoger Smith9/17/2012 5:31:42 PMYes my values have changed over the years. I was raised with the vision that I would go to work at oneplace and grow a career in that one place as did previous generations of my family. It did not matterwhat job you got, you took it and felt thankful for it. As hard as I tried I could not live to that vision. Ialways believed there was something better for me. It took me years to figure that out, but today I amwiser, better skilled and more decisive as to what I want in life. This sets me apart from my parents andsome of my siblings. As for basic core values (honesty, integrity and contribution to society) I believe myparents did well instilling good moral code within me.My cohesiveness in the workplace has grown too. With a better position to achieve what I want I caneasier plan a path to get there. I can now work with the company to better it, at the same time bettermyself by achieving my own personal career goals.ValuesBrenda Gray9/17/2012 7:18:34 PMI found an article that talks about values that affect the cohesiveness of theworkplace. It talks aboutvalues like teamwork, innovation, honesty, integrity, and a strong work ethic. A work environment thatvalues teamwork helps employees come together to solve problems. Values such as honesty, integrity,and a strong work ethic motivates employees to do their best.Information via http://smallbusiness.chron.com/values-affect-cohesiveness-workplace-10363.htmlEvolving ValuesBrittany Bergstedt9/17/2012 7:52:20 PM

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In my opinion values and ethics are rooted in the same tree, these affect all aspects of your daily lifewhether it is personal or work related. An individual is always evolving, adapting to new environments,and changing to the socio-cultural demands of society; thus transforming a person’s moral belief. Valuesare fluctuating, this means not only for the good but for the bad as well. For example CEO’s ofcompanies caught embezzling or insider trading, what happened to their ethics? What circumstancecaused such a substantial shift in morals? These are things to consider in the work place, will thepower/pressure of being a leader change your decision/ reasoning ability?Society, family, and cultural circumstances weigh heavily on how a person will react in varioussituations. For instance my sense of family values is completely different that someone who was raisedin the Foster care system. I come from a large family there are seven kids and I am the second oldest; Ipride myself on caring for my little brothers and sisters making sure they get to and from school, areeating properly, completed their school work. We as a family make sure all of our basic needs are met. Aperson that grew up without a close nit family may lack the values of compassion or camaraderie thatmy brother and sisters all have. They also may suffer from poor social skills because they were notdeveloped as a child because they weren’t exposed to those particular circumstances. Will theses traitschange over time; will you always have a base set of moarls and just continue to add to them?RE: Evolving ValuesProfessor Ridinger9/19/2012 5:22:46 PMNicely stated. Our evolving values are like vines i.e., they tend to gain in strength, form, and purposeover time. We also need to be aware of that one's current morals may or may not be ethical.personal valuesMichael Duru9/17/2012 11:06:09 PMMy personal values impact my performance in the workplace because I value integrity. I will not work ina situation that compromises my beliefs or values. I will also not work in a place that treats peoplecruelly or unjustly. I value hard work, and it is shown in my performance in the workplace. I also valuecreativity, wisdom, and personal enrichment, and I like to work in places where I can learn things.

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RE: personalvaluesBrittany Bergstedt9/20/2012 5:01:39 PMI think you hit the nail on the head; integrity is a huge driving force in office ethics. This help youeffectively communicate with all levels of management and safeguards you from being negativelyinfluenced to participate in any questionable activities.In my business class were investigating circumstances where lower level employees were encouraged tochange financial records by CEO’s of various companies. These individuals were than later prosecutedcriminally.ValuesAnabel Arteaga9/18/2012 5:07:21 PMI think my values have definitely matured they have evolved into being more family centered. I thinkwhat used to matter more to me when I was younger is not what matters to me now, I am moreresponsible and more generous. My values do differ from my sisters I am more responsible morepractical and more reliable. Values can have a big effect in the workplace it means the differencebetween having a reliable coworker or an honest worker to a person who values none of these and isalways late and lies about everything, You will always have problems with people who have low valuesbecause they don't' care about anything much less trying to satisfy a customer of meet a deadline whentheir value system is very poor.Your Personality and valuesMarcus Freeman9/18/2012 8:26:08 PMI think all human go through stages of evolution as they get older now the evolution can move a personto a higher level of maturity or a person can regress in their level of maturity or remain neutral onprogression at all. Personally my values have change as I have gotten older but not in a drastic way justminor tweaks here and their but for the most part the have remain pretty consistent now I'm not sure if

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