The next generation of workers: The structuration of work-life balance policies among Gen Z IT department workers of organizations

• Main Authors: Tajonera, Yanina Marguerite L., Jacinto, James Christian B., Uy, Jasiel Neri Y.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: Generation Z; Work-life balance; Information technology; Organizational Communication
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdb_comm/75; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdb_comm/article/1167/viewcontent/2024_Jacinto_EtAl_The_next_generation_of_workers__The_structuration_of_work_life_ba.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study aimed to explore how the discourse and perspectives of Generation Z (Gen Z) Information Technology (IT) department employees affect the negotiation and reproduction of work-life balance (WLB) policies and discourses within their organizations. In accomplishing the study’s objectives, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Gen Z adults working within the IT departments of organizations within the service industry. The study utilized several sampling schemes, first conducting data collection utilizing purposive sampling, later branching to snowball sampling, and lastly employing convenience sampling. In utilizing Structuration Theory (ST) as the theoretical framework for the study, the findings illustrated the duality of structure, specifically in how the WLB structures within organizations enabled Gen Z IT department workers to reproduce WLB policies while also allowing the participants to negotiate and make changes to the meaning of the WLB policies. In addressing the research question, the findings revealed that while Gen Z IT department workers contributed to the reproduction and negotiation of WLB policies, their discourse and perspectives were found to rely on existing discourse within their organizations. Given this, existing discourse motivated the participants to negotiate the WLB policies. Lastly, the analysis of the participants' reproduction and negotiation of WLB policies revealed WLB’s redefinition as flexibility, specifically, the concept of work-life having enough flexibility to accommodate personal life.