Communication satisfaction in a multigenerational workforce

ABSTRACT

This research aimed to understand what communication methods leaders use when supervising multigenerational groups of employed U.S. workers best impact their satisfaction levels. Building an efficient multigenerational workforce team is an essential task for leaders in the post-Great Recession era. Methods and modes of communication have advanced and changed over time. The comprehension and satisfaction of understanding these various styles of communication are essential to leading a multigenerational workforce. The participants` included employed male and female adults from 18 and upwards who were both managers and nonmanagers. The study sought to answer the following research question To what extent does communication satisfaction differ between generation cohorts (traditionalists, baby boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, and Gen Z)? Data were collected by participants answering the Downs-Hazen communication satisfaction questionnaire and demographic questions designed to group them into generational cohorts. The data elicited the communication methods used at the participants' place of employment. The study's findings included no significant communication satisfaction differences among the various communication methods concerning their generational cohort membership. The demographic analysis did provide results that the younger generations' employers utilized more social media and electronic forms of communications. These results can assist leaders in business issues to maintain a cohesive workforce and encourage knowledge transfer. Future research recommends repeating this study when the COVID 19 pandemic ends because the pandemic has significantly modified traditional workplace communication methods. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)