The relationship between work values and work enjoyment levels of teachers from X and Y generations

In this study, it is aimed to determine work values, work enjoyment level of teachers from X and Y generations and the relationship of these two. In the study, work values and work enjoyment level of teachers were designed with single survey model and the relationship between these was designed with correlational survey model. Target population of the study consisted 13487 elementary school teachers and 15014 secondary school teachers working in nine districts of Ankara. Teachers were represented by 381 participants, 180 of whose were from primary school teachers and 201 of whose were from secondary school teachers in the sampling. Stratified sampling technique was used for statistical data collection. "Work Values Inventory" was developed by the researcher. It has four dimensions and 17 items. "Work Enjoyment Scale", a sub-dimension of The Workaholism Battery developed by Spence and Robbins (1992) but revised by McMillan vd. (2002), was adapted to Turkish and used. The result of this study indicate that Y generation teachers cares all the dimensions of work values more than X generation teachers. Work enjoyment level of teachers is generally the medium level. Statistics showed that there was a positive, significant and low relationship between external rewards and work enjoyment for the X generation teachers but positive, significant and medium relationship among the other dimensions for both generation teachers. It is recommended that both school administrators and teachers know the generations of their colleagues and their generational characteristics and realize their expectations for their work values and thus ensure their enjoyment of the work.