McGregor's Theory Y posits that employees are which of the following?

• A. Lazy and require constant supervision.
• B. Self-motivated, enjoy their work, and willing to work hard to meet personal and organizational goals.
• C. Focuses on management tasks.
• D. As people mature, leadership becomes more relationship oriented.

Answer: (B)

Theory Y assumes that workers are self-motivated, find enjoyment in their work, and will put in effort to achieve personal and organizational goals when given the right environment and opportunities. This view supports empowering management practices—delegating responsibility, fostering creativity, and enabling participation—because it treats employees as capable of self-direction and intrinsic drive.

The other statements don’t capture this view: seeing people as lazy and needing constant supervision reflects Theory X, not Theory Y; saying employees focus on management tasks shifts away from their motivational mindset; and the idea that leadership becomes more relationship-oriented with maturity speaks to leadership development over time rather than the core assumption about workers’ motivation.