Generation Y Employees as a New Challenge for Employers

Maria Wanda Kopertyńska , Krystyna Kmiotek

Abstract

The simultaneous functioning of different generations in the workplace is not a new phenomenon. However, only now have such big differences between the youngest employees representing Generation Y and their older colleagues become so noticeable as to make it necessary to get to know them to be able to shape working conditions appropriately. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the difference between Generation Y and older generation groups cooperating together in today’s workplace in the conditions in Polish firms. The authors point out the specific qualities of Generation Y based on literature, mainly of western countries, and then, based on their own research including 382 managers and 1505 Generation Y employees from 16 Polish enterprises, indicate the distinguishing characteristics of the youngest employees, which are largely in phase with the characteristics of the their peer groups from the West