Generation Alpha as Corporate Sustainability Promoters? Young Employees' Expectations Regarding Corporate Sustainability and ICT

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe modern labor market is defined by the simultaneous presence of multiple generations, each possessing distinct values, professional objectives, and expectations toward employers. The youngest cohort, known as Generation Alpha, now entering the labor market, is shaped by the forces of digitalization, globalization, and the growing significance of social issues. The current study aimed to identify Generation Alpha expectations about employers' involvement in corporate sustainability practices and the implementation of ICT in the workplace, as well as to determine the relationship between these expectations. The research inquiry posed was: What are the expectations of the youngest cohort entering the labor market with respect to corporate sustainability and the use of ICT in professional settings? Corporate sustainability has been defined as a three‐dimensional construct that encompasses social, ecological, and economic dimensions. The research was carried out in Poland using an online survey methodology with a sample of 446 respondents selected by quota sampling. The findings corroborated that Generation Alpha places significant importance on corporate sustainability across three dimensions: economic, social, and ecological, with a prominent emphasis on economic security as their priority. It is crucial that members of Generation Alpha, who express expectations regarding the economic dimension of corporate sustainability, also anticipate solutions that address the social and ecological aspects. They perceive ICT in the workplace as a tool that supports the implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Our study provides an original and innovative contribution to the academic literature and addresses a research gap regarding the expectations of Generation Alpha.