Work Values over Generations Work values over generations have changed in my family though some are still

being carried out. My grandparents lived their whole life in village; my parents lived half of their life in village and are now in city. Wherever they live they have carried certain values that the given generation shared upon and some are transferred. Basically those values here are segregated in following headings: Choice of profession: Grandparents believed that agriculture is the best profession. For them having too much land and too many cattle was a symbol of status and pride. For my fathers generation it was either government job, business or job in gulf countries that became a sense of pride and respect. But nowadays our generation including myself thinks that profession where education counts are better. So, we are slowly shifting towards mentally challenging profession. Achievement: Grandparents used to think that too much crops and too many begging hands for help in a village is an achievement. For fathers generation, money, status and respect from people is an achievement. But for our generation education, well paid job and respected career is achievement. Our generation is slowly thinking achievement at the profession where our personality and ability matches is better than going after what society endorses. Independence: Grandfathers used to do work collectively in groups, exchange labor and adhere to rules of society. Fathers generation became more mobile, they believe in individual wealth and income, and they were satisfied to do what their boss wants them to do. Our generation view work as a private affair of life where we want individual freedom, flexibility, creativity and autonomy. Recognition: There is less change in values for recognition but the way recognition is to be depicted is changed. Grandparents wanted recognition for their work from villagers endorsement and invitation in work season like plantation and harvesting. Parents wanted to be recognized as the rich person via paychecks and respected citizen in the society. Our generation wants recognition as a promotion, special titles, involvement, leadership role like assigning team leader, etc. Relationship: Grandparents generation used to have strong intimacy between coworkers, know each other closely and share family matters. Fathers generation started taking work with strict authority, specialization and chain of command. Our generation takes workplace as teamwork with less boundaries, higher privacy and autonomy with less tolerance for status quo and power distance. What shapes our view of work? The education system, culture, family members, etc play a major role in shaping our work values. Because of education system that emphasizes more ethics and social responsibility, we are directly or indirectly inclined to do jobs that benefits society. Cultural factor like caste, gender, lifestyle, religion, etc dictate how we see certain work. For example, our culture do not view goldsmith as a profession of Brahmin people. Family members do influence our work values. The child in Nepal has likely chance that s/he will carry over parents profession. But, individual psychological processes always has crucial role in shaping work values. Implications The way people perceive work has changed dramatically. Organizations should view todays workforce not only as followers of change but also as change agents. Our generation is becoming more knowledge based workforce. So, leaders should view them as not only as means of carrying out decisions but also as creator of decisions. Todays workforce wants to see themselves as the owner of their work. So firms should enrich them with good leadership skills, job autonomy and responsibility. More importantly, firms should restructure it by breaking the boundaries and create a culture where people are treated as humans not machines as our fathers generation used to be.