The Role of Intergenerational Differentiation in Perception of Employee Engagement and Job Satisfaction among Older and Younger Employees in Slovenia

  • Jernej Jelenko University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15826/csp.2020.4.1.090

Abstract

With the ageing population in the developed world, age diversity in the workforce in organizations is growing. Consequently, perception of the work environment, job satisfaction and engagement are influenced by differences in age as well as a corresponding diverse set of values and often manifested through age discrimination. Using an age-diverse national sample (n = 1505) of older (n = 750) and younger (n = 755) workers in Slovenia, this study investigates the understudied influence of intergenerational differentiation (age discrimination) on job satisfaction and employee engagement between two age cohorts. Three different instruments were used: Intergenerational Differentiation in the Workplace Measure (IDWM), Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (JSQ) and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9). The main goal of the study was to (through structural equation modelling) find out if and how the perception of intergenerational differentiation in the workplace affects job satisfaction and employee engagement between young and old employees. The constructed structural model shows that independent of the age group, intergenerational differences have a direct negative effect on job satisfaction and an indirect negative effect on employee engagement. It was also found that perceived age discrimination has both a greater direct effect on job satisfaction among older employees and a greater indirect effect on older employees’ engagement than on younger employees’ job satisfaction and engagement. Thus, by examining the organizational level the study implicitly identifies that these intergenerational differences in age related values and value changes exist not only in the organization but spread through society.

Author Biography

Jernej Jelenko, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Jernej Jelenko is a sociologist and historian. He is currently pursuing Ph.D. in psychology at Faculty of Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia. In the field of industrial and organizational psychology his research interests include efficiency, engagement and satisfaction of older employees. His current research interests also involve intergenerational differences and age discrimination in the workplace. Among others he works as a human resource consultant.

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Published
2020-04-10
How to Cite
Jelenko, J. (2020). The Role of Intergenerational Differentiation in Perception of Employee Engagement and Job Satisfaction among Older and Younger Employees in Slovenia. Changing Societies & Personalities, 4(1), 68–90. doi:10.15826/csp.2020.4.1.090
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Vol. 4, No. 1 (2020)
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