Differences in Employee Motivation between Generation X and Generation Z

This bachelor’s thesis deals with differences in employee motivation between Generation X and Generation Z. The aim is to analyze and compare the work motivation of these two generations and to identify the main differences in their preferences. The theoretical part defines the concept of motivation, presents selected motivation theories, and focuses on key determinants of work motivation, particularly financial rewards, job content, and working conditions. It also characterizes Generation X and Generation Z and their motivational specifics. The practical part is based on a questionnaire survey aimed at empirically verifying differences in motivation between the examined generations. The results show that although there are certain differences between the generations, they also share a number of common motivational factors. The findings confirm that employee motivation is influenced by a combination of factors and cannot be explained solely by generational affiliation. Based on these findings, recommendations for practice are formulated to improve the effectiveness of motivational tools with regard to generational specifics.