Employer Engagement

RESEARCH & PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES

In the Field: Age & Generations
The Age & Generations Study, launched in the fall of 2007, aims to gather new, practical information about the experiences of departments and work teams as they respond to changes in the age demographics of the workforce. This information will help organizations gain a better understanding of the ways employees of different generations work together in order to develop more effective strategies for managing multi-generational teams. To date, data has been collected from over 1,900 employees at 12 worksites within 9 organizations in across the country.

The study is exploring the Impact of Age, Generation, Life-, and Career-Stage on:

• Perceived Access to and Use of Flexibility
• Perceived Relationships with and Assessments of Supervisor/Team Leaders
• Team Experiences
• Employee Engagement and Dedication

Industry Sector Options: The Center currently offers the possibility of replicating the Age & Generations Study with additional employers and has a particular interest in building upon industry sectors already represented in the project including: healthcare, higher education, pharmaceutics, retail, and financial services.

Fall 2008: Workplace Adaptation to the Multi-Generational Workplace
The proposed study will replicate the Center’s 2006 National Study of Business Strategy and Workforce Development to document changes in organizational trends and to identify factors that predict organizational response, including the adoption of flexible work options.  The investigation will determine:

• Whether, between 2006-2009, there have been changes in organizations’ awareness and assessment of the 21st century multi-generational workforce;
• The steps taken to assess the relevance and significance of those changes for their organizations (or specific parts of their organization);
• Workplace responses to the 21st century multi-generational workforce, including the expansion of workplace flexibility.

Industry Sector Options:  The Center currently offers the possibility of conducting additional survey modules (designed for managers/supervisors and for employees) linked to specific information domains of the Study of Workplace Adaptation to the Multi-Generational Workforce (e.g. Employee Engagement, Knowledge Transfer, Workplace Flexibility).

Coming in 2009: Generation of Talent
The Generation of Talent Study will explore the priorities and needs of Gen Y, Gen X, and Boomer employees regarding jobs, work, and employment and how their perceptions of values, priorities, career goals, and work styles fit within the work environment where they work/anticipate working.

The Generation of Talent of Study will be cross-national. The focus will be on 5 companies with locations in more than one country: one in the U.S. will be studied along with a location in another country of the company’s choosing.

The Study will employ a multi-method approach (survey, narratives, virtual focus groups, response to scenarios). Information will be gathered from a minimum of 300 employees per site, with two sites/countries per company

The Generation of Talent of Study will have a diversified funding model, combining foundation and corporate support. Invitations will be extended summer 2008.

Learn More
To learn more about Employer Engagement, please contact Kathy Lynch.