Factors Influencing Work System Preferences: A Study of Generation X, Y, and Z Employees
Keywords:
Work System Preferences, Generational Differences, Work-Life Balance, Flexibility, Digital Literacy, Work Arrangements, Hybrid Work, Indonesia, Emerging Economy.Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced three main work models: Work from Office (WFO), Work from Home (WFH), and hybrid. This shift has created a critical need to understand the factors that influence work system preferences among Generations X, Y, and Z in the labor market. This study examines how generational characteristics, work-life balance, flexibility, and digital literacy shape work system preferences among 413 employees in Indonesia using PLS-SEM with WarpPLS. Results show that generational characteristics and flexibility significantly influence work preferences, while work-life balance and digital literacy do not significantly affect preferences in the Indonesian context. These findings reveal how cultural norms favoring physical presence and limited remote work infrastructure create different dynamics than developed markets. Gen X and Y predominantly prefer WFO for stability and direct interaction, while Gen Z leans toward WFH for flexibility. This study contributes empirical evidence from an emerging economy perspective and highlights the importance of designing adaptive work policies that account for generational differences, organizational culture, and infrastructure readiness rather than simply adopting Western-based flexible work models.
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