Attitudes and Occupational Commitment among Public Personnel: Differences between Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers

Abstract

We investigate the relationships between two work-related attitudes (the love of money and leisure ethic) and affective, continuance, and normative occupational commitment controlling gender, organizational tenure, and career tenure and test the model across Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers in a multi-group analysis. We collected data from a stratified random sample of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in the USA (N = 397). Results suggested that leisure ethic was positively related to affective commitment for Baby Boomers, whereas the love of money was negatively related to affective commitment for Gen-Xers. Career tenure was positively related to all three components of occupational commitment for both age cohorts. Gender (male) was positively related to love of money and negatively related to leisure ethic for Gen-Xers, but not for Baby Boomers. Further, the love of money was negatively related to affective commitment for male Gen-Xers, but not for female Gen-Xers. Results provide important implications for managing Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers.