As Society Changes, Work Ethics Evolve
Dean Carriger
Business Ethics 1040
The workforce has seen fundamental clashes between workers over the past several
years following Generation-Y’s entrance into the workplace. Work ethics are thought to be
getting worse with each new generation, and the most significant decline has been seen with
Generation-Y. There is an obvious difference in ideology when it comes to the work ethics of
each generation. Work ethics are not in decline, they are just evolving with each new
generation that enters the workplace.
Work ethics involve honesty and accountability. Work ethics deal with what one
chooses to do in a particular situation. Choosing what is right and acceptable is to be acting
ethically. The problem is that when we use the word “ethics” we assume it means the same
thing to each generation. There is gray area when applying work ethics among different
generations. Gray area is what lies between the lines; something that is not black and white.
There are many areas of established policy or guidelines in the workplace that can be
interpreted many different ways depending on a generation’s perspective. What is ethical to
one generational group may be considered highly unethical to another generational group.
To evaluate the correlation of society’s change in values and work ethics among the
different generations, we need to understand who these people are. The current generations
have been given a few different names and may vary slightly in the range of years in which they
encompass. A general listing of the generations; their personal and lifestyle characteristics and
their workplace characteristics as cited by FDU Magazine Online are as follows:
(Hammill, 2005)
(Hammill, 2005)
As seen in the charts above, workplace characteristics have changed along with personal
and lifestyle characteristics. These relationships reflect the changes of society’s values as they
carry over into the workplace; and the evolvement of work ethics. The advances of technology
and fluctuation of the economy has shaped the way society believes. A review of history shows
a drastic difference of how society lived and grew during each generation. The most recent
advancements of technology which occurred during Generation Y have hastened the change of
values in society; which is continuing to evolve.
The Veteran Generation grew up during adverse times with the financial difficulties of
the great depression and World War II. Children grew up having to work hard for things they
wanted and knew all things were not equal. Their work ethics often followed the military style
of supervision and putting in a long day of work was routine. Many jobs were based on physical
labor done at a work site. The drive for money and work dynamics created the need for long
work hours. The Veteran Generation believes in social order, respect of authority and “paying
their dues”. Now that the Veteran Generation has spent so many years in the workforce, their
work ethic has changed. They believe they have paid their dues. “They have become the real
entitlement generation”. (Stireman, 2012) The Veteran Generation believes an employer
cannot reduce their benefits for any reason.
The Baby Boom Generation experienced the struggles of the prior generation when they
were children, but things changed as they grew in age. Education became an expectation as
the workplace began to advance in technology. Baby Boomers experienced political and social
turmoil surrounding the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. Many Baby Boomers
participated in the protests and civil unrest associated with those controversies. More
minorities and women began entering into new areas of the workplace as the Civil Rights Act of
1964 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Baby Boomers were prosperous and
optimistic believing they could change the world. Their work was a way to have a sense of selfworth and personal fulfillment. Work was the foremost priority in life.
Members of Generation X grew up during a time of financial insecurity and a stagnant
job market. They are the first generation to earn less than their parents. Many Generation X
children grew up in a home where both parents worked or in a single parent home. This
created a greater independence and self-reliance than previous generations. Generation X
started the quest for a greater balance in life between work and family, as their loyalties to
family and friends were stronger than with their employer. Generation X experienced the
beginning of the computer era, but are far less technology savvy than the following Generation
Y.
Generation Y has developed their values from excessive parenting. Parents pushed so
much for everything to be equal and fair for their children, a since of entitlement was created.
As the children grew and moved into the workplace, they expect things to remain the same as
when they grew up. Everything should be equal and fair. Generation Y does not understand
the concept of paying their dues as believed by the Veteran Generation. “Generation Y does
not like a military style of leadership”. (Stireman, 2012) Generation Y also grew up with
computers and experienced significant technological advances. Generation Y continues to
expand the idea of having a balance between work and family. With the advances of
technology, they do not see the need to be in an office during set hours. They can work and
communicate from anywhere.
The changes of work ethics are a mere reflection of society’s change in values. The
change is most evident in the workplace because it is the only location four generations who
normally do not interact, are required to spend a significant portion of their day together and
successfully produce and end result. Society’s values change through the continued life
experience of each generation. Work ethics evolve with each generation and are brought into
the workplace. The work ethic standards are established by the generation currently in charge
and often rebuffed by the other generations.
References
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