Testing for Generational Difference Impacts on Employee New Job Seeking Intent in Response to COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter Movement

Abstract

Using a sample of 122 employed U.S. survey respondents, this study investigated if there were generational difference impacts on employees seeking jobs in response to COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Four generations were sampled – Generation Z (Gen Z), Generation Y (Millennials), Generation X (Gen X), and Baby Boomer (Boomers). Results showed that generation had a significant effect on employees search for new jobs in response to COVID-19 and BLM after controlling for demographics, i.e., gender, race, and education level and organization variables, i.e., annual salary, COVID-19 employee experience and BLM employee experience. Further analysis showed that Gen Z employees were more likely to actively seek new employment in response to the BLM movement than Gen X and Boomers, whereas Millennials were more to actively search than Gen X due to COVID-19. These results suggest insights into the role of societal crises in shaping workplace behavior across generations.