The research results are commented on by a member of the research team, Dr Izabela Różańska‑Bińczyk from the Faculty of Management, University of Lodz.
The aim of the study was to identify Generation Alpha’s expectations regarding employers’ engagement in the sustainable development of enterprises and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the workplace, as well as to determine the relationships between these areas. Sustainable enterprise development is understood as an approach encompassing economic, social and environmental dimensions.
The results clearly indicate that Generation Alpha attaches great importance to all three dimensions. However, their significance is not perceived as equal by young people. The greatest importance is assigned to the economic dimension, understood as job stability, financial security and the predictability of working conditions.
The dominance of the economic aspect is not accidental. Young people operate in conditions of labour market uncertainty, experience underemployment and face rising living costs. In times of crisis, they are among the groups most exposed to job loss, which makes employment stability a key priority for them. Consequently, although they take into account corporate social responsibility, their primary expectation towards employers is economic security and a permanent employment contract as the foundation of the employment relationship.
At the same time, the research shows that young employees’ expectations are systemic in nature and interrelated. Individuals who expect employers to undertake actions in the economic sphere also assume the presence of social and environmental solutions. This means that Generation Alpha perceives sustainable development in a holistic manner.
In the social dimension, elements particularly important to young employees include a good workplace atmosphere, positive interpersonal relationships, the absence of discrimination, support in crisis situations and the possibility of maintaining a work–life balance. In the environmental dimension, a certain ambivalence can be observed: young people declare the importance of pro‑ecological activities, yet the level of their knowledge and engagement in this area remains varied.
Generation Alpha is also the first fully digital generation, raised in a world of technology, social media and artificial intelligence. As a result, information and communication technologies constitute a natural environment for its functioning. Research indicates that young employees perceive these technologies as a tool supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, they primarily attribute a social function to them, serving relationship‑building and communication, and to a lesser extent a role in achieving environmental and economic goals.
More broadly, the research findings align with a trend suggesting that the youngest generations can play a key role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Thanks to their rapid access to information, their ability to verify it and their ability to function in a high-tech environment, Generation Alpha has the potential to initiate change and shape contemporary organisational models. The study results point to a diversification of attitudes towards climate change – from high engagement to scepticism – which indicates the need for education and raising ecological awareness.
From the human resources management perspective, these results have significant practical implications. Organisations that wish to attract and retain young employees should design their employee value propositions in an integrated manner. It is crucial to combine economic stability with social and environmental actions.
Employee environmental education also becomes particularly important. Since some young people do not fully perceive the impact of their everyday actions on the environment, organisations should implement both simple measures and more comprehensive educational initiatives concerning, for example, climate change. It is essential that these actions are embedded in everyday organisational practices and support genuine employee engagement, rather than a merely declarative approach to sustainable development.
In the coming years, it will be Generation Alpha and Generation Z who will initiate the transformation of organisations towards sustainable development. However, the skilful integration of social and environmental values with the real economic needs of young employees is a prerequisite for this change.
The study has been conducted by a five‑member research team from the Department of Human Resources Management at the Faculty of Management, University of Lodz. The research was carried out in Poland using the CAWI method on a sample of 446 respondents.
Source: Dr Izabela Różańska-Bińczyk
Edit: Faculty of Management, University of Lodz
