Examining the influence of transculturation on work ethic in the United States

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of cultural assimilation – termed “transculturation” – on work ethic perceptions, thus this study examines trends in work ethic across ethnic and generational groups within the USA. Design/methodology/approach – Following a literature review on work ethic, ethnicity, and transculturation, an analysis of variance based on 873 survey responses is presented. The sample includes undergraduate and graduate students at several public universities within the USA. Findings – An empirical analysis supports the hypothesis that the variation of work ethic perceptions within the Millennial generation is significantly less than the variation among older generations. The authors find no significant difference in general work ethic perceptions among Millennial ethnic groups. Research limitations/implications – While the study is conducted using a convenience sample, the demographics are closely representative of the USA labor force. The results suggest that Millennials, while a more diverse ethnic population, exhibit less variation among work ethic perceptions than earlier generational groups. Practical implications – Understanding differences in work ethic perceptions across various ethnic groups is valuable for managers interested in designing jobs that appropriately exploit the full value of a multi-generational workforce. Originality/value – The findings of this study offer new insights into how more recent generations, while more ethnically diverse, exhibit a convergence in perceptions of work ethic.

Cross-cultural issues in business ethics: A review and research agenda

“…There is no comprehensive review exploring the methods, variables, and constructs used in prior studies cross-cultural issues in business ethic based on all the articles published in well-regarded academic journals with an impact factor score of at least 1.0. Many scholars offer prescriptive studies attempting to formulate moral norms and determine what ought to be done (Beauchamp et al, 1997; Bonde and Firenze, 2013; Hite et al, 2015; Posner, 1979; Soltani, 2014; Treviño and Nelson, 2011). Even though recent notable studies (e.g., Alexandra et al, 2017; Ast, 2019; Christie et al, 2003; Ermasova et al, 2017; Stahl et al, 2017) provide new dimensions to cross-cultural issues in business ethics research, there are some unexplored areas where researchers need to pay more attention.…”

Intellectual structure of multigenerational workforce and contextualizing work values across generations: a multistage analysis

“…Hite et al (2015) also concur that work values have diminished with generations and millennials exhibit inadequate work ethics and work centrality in comparison to the baby boomers. Several theorists have also reiterated that the level of offering respect has plummeted distressingly in the case of millennials, which negatively impacts the communication effectiveness (Weber, 2017).…”

“…Study 2 aims to understand the key shifts (and convergence) that have taken place in the value system across generational cohorts. Hite et al , 2015, stated that values are a kind of belief situated inside the individual's belief system, guiding one about the do's and don'ts. This makes values strong predictors of work attitudes and work behavior and if left unaddressed, forms fertile ground for the germination of conflicts (Cogin, 2012).…”

Work ethic and information security behavior

“…Work ethic continues to receive significant attention from researchers and practitioners alike. Many believe that work ethic has declined over generations (Eisenberger, 1989; Sacks, 1998), and this is generally supported by empirical research (Hite et al , 2014). More importantly, hiring managers consider work ethic critically important when hiring new employees.…”