The work ethic of young people : a case study

Abstract

The objective of this project was to research the work ethic of young workers in the 18 to 25 age group working in a private organisation. Comparisons were made with the work ethic of adult workers in the 30 to 37 age bracket. My main conclusions have been derived from a questionnaire and through observation. The main findings of this research show that young workers give priority to financial rewards, reasonable working hours, good social environment and self-improvement courses. When all the responses were analysed according to gender, marital status and level of education no significant differences emerged. It has also resulted that the young workers would like to be given the chance to use their initiative and act on their own judgement, whilst the majority felt that they were not getting a satisfactory feeling of accomplishment from their job. The results enabled me to make suggestions as to how the organisation can undergo an exercise of change if it wishes to accommodate the needs and expectations of a more powerful and assured workforce. I have made recommendations on how this change can be initiated and how a professionally trained youth worker can have a functional role in this scenario.