Technological Invasion and Employee Silence: A Comparison of Millennials and Generation Xers
Keywords:
technolocial invasion, employee silence, millenials, emotional exhaustion,Abstract
New technologies enable employees to stay connected to work even during non-working hours. This study examines whether emotional exhaustion mediates the effect of technological invasion on employee silence (i.e., pro-social, defensive, and acquiescent), and whether generational differences (i.e., between Generation Xers and Millennials) interact with technological invasion to influence emotional exhaustion and thereby employee silence. Data were collected from 339 full-time employees working for different organizations. Results indicate that technological invasion is positively associated with employee silence (i.e., defensive and acquiescent), and that emotional exhaustion mediates the effect of technological invasion on employee silence. However, the effects of technological invasion are less pronounced for Generation Xers than Millennials. Managers are encouraged to introduce HR policies that motivate employees to speak up about the use of technology at the workplace, and to leverage different generations’ experiences via inclusion programs.
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