Fostering intergenerational harmony: Can good quality contact between older and younger employees reduce workplace conflict?

Lisbeth Drury · Ulrike Fasbender

21 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology

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Generational Differences and Trends Social and Intergroup Psychology Conflict Management and Negotiation

Abstract

Abstract This study examines how workplace conflict between multigenerational co‐workers arises and can be reduced. Utilizing social categorization and intergroup contact theories, we hypothesized that good quality contact between older and younger employees decreases task and relationship conflict by reducing perceived age discrimination (PAD), above and beyond trust as a typical social exchange mechanism prevalent in relationships between co‐workers. Furthermore, we predicted that task interdependence would exacerbate the relationships between PAD with task and relationship conflict. We applied structural equation modelling using a sample of 567 older and younger British employees to test our hypotheses while controlling for trust as an alternative mechanism. In line with our predictions, we found that good quality contact between older and younger employees reduced employees' PAD, which in turn reduced task conflict and relationship conflict (above and beyond trust as a control mechanism). The indirect effects of intergroup contact on workplace conflict via PAD were further enhanced when cross‐age co‐workers were highly interdependent in conducting their work tasks. Our findings suggest that organizations should create practices to improve cross‐age contact in the workplace.

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References

2011Sources of Method Bias in Social Science Research and Recommendations on How to Control It 1965Exchange and Power in Social Life.1986Psychology of intergroup relations 2005Social Exchange Theory: An Interdisciplinary Review 2006A meta-analytic test of intergroup contact theory.1995Stereotype threat and the intellectual test performance of African Americans.1998INTERGROUP CONTACT THEORY 1995A Multimethod Examination of the Benefits and Detriments of Intragroup Conflict

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