Behavioural Research Lab Seminar: Doctor Simon McCabe

This Behavioural Research Lab seminar will be hosted by Doctor Simon McCabe, Senior Lecturer in Behavioural Science at Aston Business School and Head of the Healthy Work Research Group. An online option is also available, if you would like to join online please contact [email protected].

The UK has been facing persistent labour shortages for a number of years, with a significant portion of both younger and older generations being 'economically inactive'. Previous literature suggests differential motivations underlying why these generations have shunned the workplace. However, to date, this literature has not examined how values and concerns differ across the lifespan, and how this may impinge on the appeal of employment. Drawing on generativity theory and terror management theory, we present two experimental studies suggesting that how jobs are advertised, and the values they communicate (either materialistic or generative), may result in positions being seen as more or less appealing to different generations. We also find that concerns about mortality can impact the appeal of jobs based on how they are framed (especially for older generations). Results are discussed in terms of practical applications for recruitment.

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Host or Publisher Behavioural Research Laboratory