Research Articles Issue 2 · 2024 · pp. 135–145 · Issue page

GENERATION Z AT WORK – PERCEPTIONS OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE

NI
IU
1 Associate Professor, Ph.D., Faculty of European Studies, Ba beș-Bolyai University, Cluj -Napoca, Romania
2 MA, Faculty of European Studies, Babeș -Bolyai University, Cluj -Napoca, Romania Cluj -Napoca, Romania
Corresponding author: [email protected]
Received 13 September 2024
Revised -
Accepted 06 November 2024
Available Online 15 November 2024
THE GROWING PROPORTION OF GENERATION Z EMPLOYEES HAS SPARKED SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN UNDERSTANDING THE CHARACTERISTICS AND PREFERENCES OF THIS GENERATION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY IS TO TO ASSESS THE WORK -LIFE BALANCE PERCEPTIONS OF GENERATION Z EMPLOYEES, WITH THE PRACTICAL PART CONDUCTED AMONG YOUNG EMPLOYEES IN ROMANIA. THE CHOICE OF THE TOPIC IS JUSTIFIED BY THE IMPORTANCE GIVEN BY YOUNG EMPLOYEES REGARDING THE BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE, KNOWING HOWEVER THAT GENERATION Z IS NOT HOMOGENEOUS. THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ARE: (1) TO IDENTIFY THE STATUS OF GENERATION Z EMPLOYEES IN RELATION TO WORK -LIFE BALANCE, AND (2) TO DETERMINE HOW GENERATION Z EMPLOYEES PERCEIVE THEIR EMPLOYERS IN RELATION TO FOSTERING AN ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO WORK -LIFE BALANCE. TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES, A QUANTITATIVE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED. THE KEY FINDINGS HIGHLIGHT THAT, FOR THE STUDIED SAMPLE, WORK -LIFE BALANCE HOLDS GREATER SIGNIFICANCE THAN EVEN GENEROUS REMUNERATION. PARTICIPANTS BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT FACILITATE WORK -LIFE BALANCE IN THEIR COMPANIES, AND THAT THE CURRENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE “WORK -LIFE BALANCE” CONCEPT MEETS THEIR EXPECTATIONS.
GENERATION Z WORKFORCE WORK-LIFE BALANCE ROMANIA
The body of this article is intentionally hidden on the public page. Please use the PDF reader or the PDF download for the complete text.
[1]
B. Leslie, C. Anderson, C. Bickham, et al., “Generation Z Perceptions of a Positive Workplace Environment“, Employ Responsibilities and Rights Journal , Vol. 33, 2021, pp. 171 –187, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-021-09366-2, [Accessed August 20, 2024].
[2]
Oxford Economic, Gen Z's Role in Shaping the Digital Economy, 2021, Available at: https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Snapchat_Report_EN_V6.pdf, [Accessed May 20, 2023].
[3]
B. Marr, “The Eight Biggest HR Trends In 2024”, Forbes, Dec 18 2023, Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/12/18/the-eight-biggest-hr-trends-in-2024/, [Accessed August 20, 2024].
[4]
N. D. Racolţa-Paina, R. D. Irini Radu Dan, „Generation Z in the Workplace through the Lenses of Human Resource Professionals – A Qualitative Study”, Quality: Access to Success , Vol. 22, No. 183, 2021, pp. 78 -85, Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicoleta-Racolta- Paina/publication/352374489_Generation_Z_in_the_Workplace_through_the_Lenses_of_Human_Res ource_Professionals_-_A_Qualitative_Study/links/60ee570316f9f313007fa055/Generation-Z-in-the- Workplace-through-the-Lenses-of-Human-Resource-Professionals-A-Qualitative-Study.pdf, [Accessed January 31, 2024].
[5]
M. Radonić, V. Vukmirović, M. Milosavljević, “The Impact of Hybrid Workplace Models on Intangible Assets: The Case of an Emerging Country”, Amfiteatru Economic, Vol. 23, No. 58, pp. 770 - 786, Available at: http://www.amfiteatrueconomic.ro/temp/Article_3034.pdf, [Accessed January 31, 2024].
[6]
Deloitte, “ 2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey“, Available at: https://www.deloitte.com/content/dam/assets-shared/docs/campaigns/2024/deloitte-2024-genz- millennial-survey.pdf?dlva=, [Accessed August 22, 2024].
[7]
B. Dimitriu, A. Filip, O. Tisler, “The Z factor: Can Gen Z fulfill Romania’s economic potential?“, McKinsey Company, December 2023, Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/ro/~/media/mckinsey/locations/europe%20and%20middle%20east/romania /our%20insights/the%20z%20factor%20can%20gen%20z%20fulfill%20romanias%20economic%20po tential/the-z-factor-can-gen-z-fulfill-romanias-economic-potential.pdf?shouldIndex=false, [Accessed June, 6, 2024].
[8]
M. De Witte, „Gen Z are not ‘coddled.’ They are highly collaborative, self -reliant and pragmatic, according to new Stanford -affiliated research”, Stanford News , 3 January 2022, Available at: https://news.stanford.edu/2022/01/03/know-gen-z/, [Accessed June 7, 2023].
[9]
A. Stroe, “Ce se va întâmpla cu cea mai tânără generație de angajați din România în contextul generat de coronavirus”, Business Magazin , June 1, 2020, Available at: https://www.businessmagazin.ro/cover-story/ce-se-va-intampla-cu-cea-mai-tanara-generatie-de- angajati-din-19213002, [Accessed June, 6, 2023].
[10]
P. Brough, C. Timms, X. W. Chan, A. Hawkes, L. Rasmussen, „Work –Life Balance: Definitions, Causes, and Consequences“ in Theorell, T. (eds) Handbook of Socioeconomic Determinants of Occupational Health. Handbook Series in Occupational Health Sciences. Springer, 2020, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31438-5_20, [Accessed June, 6, 2023].
[11]
Cambridge Business English Dictionary, varianta on -line, Available at: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/work-life-balance, [Accessed May, 10, 2023].
[12]
M. Thomas, “What Does Work -Life Balance Even Mean?”, Forbes, July 26, 2022, Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurathomas/2022/07/26/what-does-work-life-balance-even-mean/ [Accessed May, 10, 2023].
[13]
Economist Impact, WeWork, „The great rebalancing: priorities and worklife balance in a hybrid working environment“, Available at: https://impact.economist.com/projects/nextpectations/downloads/The_great_rebalancing.pdf , [Accessed August 22, 2024].
[14]
S. D. Friedman, P. Christensen , J. DeGroot, „ Work and Life: The End of the Zero -Sum Game ,” Harvard Business Review on Work and Life Balance, Boston, Harvard Business School Press, 2000.
[15]
Wall-Street, „Work-life balance: de ce este necesar și cum poate fi stabilit echilibrul dintre carieră și viața personală?”, Wall-Street.ro, 1 iulie 2021, Available at: https://www.wall- street.ro/articol/Careers/273802/work-life-balance-de-ce-este-necesar-si-cum-poate-fi-stabilit- echilibrul-dintre-cariera-si-viata-personala.html, [Accessed May, 10, 2023].
[16]
Barbu, Petre, „Work Life Balance – Ana Nicolau (Nemira): «Nu există viață personală și viață profesională, există numai viață»”, Forbes Romania , 3 august 2018, Available at: https://www.forbes.ro/articles/work-life-balance-ana-nicolau-nemira-nu-exista-viata-personala-si-viata- profesionala-exista-numai-viata-124060, [Accessed May, 10, 2023].
[17]
J. Koetsier, „Top Apps of 2022 By Installs, Spend, and Active Users: Report”, Forbes, 23 martie 2022, Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2022/03/23/top-apps-of-2022-by-installs- spend-and-active-users-report/?sh=657a4834d3ac, [Accessed April, 21, 2023].
[18]
K. Bishop, „Why are millennials and Gen Z turning to Instagram as a news source?”, The Guardian, 27 July 2020, Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jul/27/instagram-news- source-social-media, [Accessed April, 21, 2023].