Browsing by Subject "X-sukupolvi"

Experiencing the meaningfulness of work has been identified to have positive impact on individual’s wellbeing. According to the generational divide often used in research, today’s workforce consists mainly of generation X and Y. The aim of the study was to find out what kind of factors X and Y generations experience as meaningful in work and whether the experiences of these generational cohorts differ in terms of meaningfulness of work. The purpose of the study is to provide information about the experience of meaningfulness of work to the individuals, as well as to organizations and managers. The study was conducted as a mixed-method research. The data of the study, provided by Meaningful Work Ry, was collected with a survey during summer 2017. This study examined 270 participants who belonged to generation X and Y. Factors that were perceived as meaningful in work were examined with open questions, after which responses were categorised by data-driven content analysis. Furthermore, categories were quantified, and their frequencies were compared between generational cohorts. This study used The Work and Meaning Inventory (WAMI) to measure the meaningfulness of work. Differences in meaningfulness of work between X and Y generations were analysed using Mann-Whitney U-test. The factors perceived as meaningful in the work consisted of six main categories: utilization and development of one’s own competence, social relations, goals and results, the broader meaning of work, the features of work and recognition obtained from the work. No differences were found between the generational cohorts in terms of experiencing meaningfulness in work or the factors perceived as meaningful in the work. The results provide a new division of six factors that are perceived as meaningful in work. In addition, the results strengthen criticism of generational divide. The results of the study can be applied in organizations to support experience of meaningfulness in work of employees, in recruitment and employer branding. Furthermore, the results provide information to the individual when considering their own experience of meaningfulness of work.