New York: Mobile phones and emails may have become common tools for contact among people but majority of employees, including those of younger generation, still prefer face-to-face communication at work.
As per a survey of employees and managers in the U.S, 60 percent of those aged over 55 years preferred face-to-face communications at work. About 55 percent of those aged 25-34 also liked to follow this route.
Face-to-face communication is followed by emails and text messages as the second preferred option (28 percent for over 55 years age and 35 percent for aged between 25-34).
However, the phone has fallen out of favour for both the age groups and is preferred by 12 percent of those aged over 55 years, and even lower at 10 percent for those aged between 25-34.
The survey, conducted by research firm Harris Interactive for human capital solutions provider CareerBuilder, covered close to 3,900 workers and about 2,300 hiring managers in the U.S.
In another interesting finding, the survey results showed that one third of the U.S. workers have a younger boss and around one-in-seven workers have a boss at least ten years younger.
"A new generation of professionals entering the management roles means the correlation between seniority and leadership could be disappearing," the survey found.
While 34 percent of the U.S. workers said their boss is younger than they are, 15 percent said they work for someone who is at least ten years younger.
While most workers said it is not difficult to work for a younger boss, differences in work styles, communication and expectations illustrate the changing nature of office life.
The nationwide survey further found that younger workers tend to view a career path with a "seize any opportunity" mindset, while older workers are more likely to place value in loyalty and putting in the years before advancement.
Surprisingly, more than half of younger workers said that one should stay in a job for at least three years, while the view was shared by 62 percent of those aged over 55 years.