The age of innocence: Diversity climate, work attitudes, and the role of age and gender

Drawing on the literature on diversity management, identity theory and work attitudes, in this study we investigate the link between employees’ perception of diversity climate and their work attitudes (i.e. engagement, and change-oriented organizational citizenship behavior). In carrying out this analysis, we focus on how employees’ age, and gender can influence the relationship between individual perception of diversity climate and work attitudes. We tested our hypotheses on a sample of 319 employees belonging to a multinational consultancy company in Italy. Our results support the view that a positive individual perception of diversity climate increases work engagement and change-oriented OCB (Organizational Citizen Behavior), and that these relationships are more negative for employees belonging to younger generations with respect to older ones, and more positive for women with respect to men. This study contributes to the debate on how individual perception of diversity climate can influence positive work attitudes. Moreover, it contributes to the debate on diversity neutrality within generations and gender by providing empirical support to the role of individuals belonging to different generations