Expectations of generation Y connected with shaping the work-life balance. The case of Poland

Research background: Entering of generation Y into the job market causes many interesting insights for both researchers, who analyze the specifics of this generation, as well as practitioners of modern organizations' management. Despite some differences in the charac-teristics of generation Y, the authors involved in this issue agree that generation Y is focused on education and development with simultaneous desire to maintain a balance between work and personal life. More often than older generations, they are willing to use the various programs, offered by their company, supporting reconciliation of professional and personal life. Purpose of the article: The aim of the article is to present issues concerning the functioning of the representatives of generation Y in the labor market with particular emphasis on the issue of balancing professional work and personal life. Methods: The conducted research aimed to analyze the opinion of representatives of gener-ation Y about the expectations associated with their professional work with special emphasis on creating a balance between work and personal life. In order to obtain answers to the research questions, the methods of diagnostic survey and questionnaire technique were used. To complement the obtained data, the additional qualitative research unstructured interviews were conducted. The researches were conducted in Poland, at one of the technical universities in the Silesian voivodeship. Findings & Value added: Respondents have confirmed the hypothesis that for their genera-tion balance between work and personal life is very important. The collected respondents' opinions showed the image of flexible employment as a good way to reconcile work and other obligations, which gives the ability to have multiple sources of income. It is a good solution especially for young people and people entering the labor market. The results of the conducted interviews pointed to a number of factors which in the opinion of young workers are important values in life and are related to the maintaining work-life balance.