Transactional and Relational Aspects of the Psychological Contracts of Temporary Workers

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 831-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory John Lee ◽  
Nicole Faller
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Psychological Contract ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Psychological Contracts ◽  
Contingent Workers ◽  
Temporary Workers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Organisational Support ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Over Time

Contingent labour is an increasingly important part of the international and South African business environment. Several questions arise regarding the relationships between such workers and the client organisations that utilise their labour. Do contingent workers maintain transactional relationships only? Can loyalty and commitment be increased in such workers? Using the concept of the psychological contract, this article ascertains whether relationships with the client organisation vary for South African temporary workers of varying tenures. Employing a cross-sectional design, results for 174 temporary workers suggest that relationships with client organisations begin with largely transactional elements. Over time, the contract becomes significantly more relational, especially after the worker has been with the client organisation for six months or more. This relationship is affected by contract violation and organisational support.

scholarly journals Psychological contract profiles among permanent and temporary agency workers

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria J Chambel ◽  
Laura Lorente ◽  
Vânia Carvalho ◽  
Isabel Maria Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Work Engagement ◽  
Psychological Contract ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Temporary Workers ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Permanent Workers ◽  
Temporary Agency Workers

Purpose – Based on the psychological contract (PC) theory, the purpose of this paper is to identify PC profiles, differentiating between permanent and temporary agency workers (TAW). Moreover, the authors analyzed whether different profiles presented different levels of work engagement. Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional survey data analysis of 2,867 workers, of whom 1,046 were TAW, was analyzed using latent profile analyses. Findings – Four PC profiles were identified, which differed quantitatively in terms of the overall dimension levels (i.e. balanced, relational and transactional) for PC (i.e. content and fulfillment). ANCOVAs showed that the relational/balanced dominant and transactional dominant profiles presented similar engagement levels for TAW, but for permanent workers the former profile showed higher engagement than the latter. However, for both permanent and TAW the fulfillment profile showed higher engagement than the unfulfillment profile. Research limitations/implications – The cross-sectional design and the reliance on self-report measures are the limitations of this study, although no causality was claimed and method biases were controlled. Practical implications – Actions that increase PC fulfillment positively affect the employment relationship of TAW with the client organization. Originality/value – Few studies have addressed PC typologies. Furthermore, most studies have focussed on temporary workers, but not on TAW and their contract with the client organization. Finally, this study emphasizes the crucial role played by the PC in the levels of work engagement.

scholarly journals Emerging, crystalizing, and changing psychological contracts over time: Introducing the iPC-network model

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Vantilborgh
Keyword(s):  
Network Model ◽  
Psychological Contract ◽  
Dynamic Network ◽  
Network Models ◽  
Psychological Contracts ◽  
Exchange Relationships ◽  
Contract Breach ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Over Time

This chapter introduces the individual Psychological Contract (iPC) network model as an alternative approach to study psychological contracts. This model departs from the basic idea that a psychological contract forms a mental schema containing obligated inducements and contributions, which are exchanged for each other. This mental schema is captured by a dynamic network, in which the nodes represent the inducements and contributions and the ties represent the exchanges. Building on dynamic systems theory, I propose that these networks evolve over time towards attractor states, both at the level of the network structure and at the level of the nodes (i.e., breach and fulfilment attractor states). I highlight how the iPC-network model integrates recent theoretical developments in the psychological contract literature and explain how it may advance scholars understanding of exchange relationships. In particular, I illustrate how iPC-network models allow researchers to study the actual exchanges in the psychological contract over time, while acknowledging its idiosyncratic nature. This would allow for more precise predictions of psychological contract breach and fulfilment consequences and explains how content and process of the psychological contract continuously influence each other.

scholarly journals An Epidemiological Study on Factors Influencing Gaming Disorder- an Online Cross- Sectional Design

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rabbanie Tariq Wani ◽  
Imrose Rashid
Keyword(s):  
Epidemiological Study ◽  
Online Gaming ◽  
Gaming Disorder ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background: Gaming disorders have increased over time due to easy availability of online gaming. The aim of this study is to determine the factors influencing the gaming disorders. Methods: An online questionnaire was circulated on gaming platforms for the assessment as per IGD20 & DSM5 criteria. Results: A significant correlation was found between duration of play and gaming disorders (r= 0.131, p<0.05). The scores were concurrent as per IGD20 and DSM5 criteria. Conclusion: Undiagnosed gaming disorder among gamers needs to be addressed. Duration of playing of games also needs to be checked inorder to reduce the prevalence of gaming disorders.

A generic investigation process for South African commercial forensic practitioners

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 587-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacobus Gerhardus J. Nortje ◽  
Daniel P. Bredenkamp
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
South African ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Investigation Process

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to critically analyse and discuss the identification of a generic investigation process to be followed by the commercial forensic practitioner in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a cross-sectional design that commenced with a review of the current available literature, highlighting the different approaches, processes and best practices used in local and international forensic practices. The methodology includes primary data collected with questionnaires from commercial forensic practitioner (N = 75) process users. Findings This paper identifies the following five distinct categories in the forensic investigation process, with sub-processes, namely, initiation, planning, execution, reporting and reflection. Research limitations/implications The study focuses only on the South African members of the Institute of Commercial Forensic Practitioners (ICFP) fraternity in South Africa as the ICFP is a leading body that, through membership, offers a recognised professional qualification in commercial forensics. Practical implications An investigation process for commercial forensic practitioners in South Africa could be used by the ICFP that would provide a governance structure for the ICFP. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies in setting out of an account of forensic accounting processes and best practices nationally and internationally. The missing knowledge is that no such research is known to have been conducted in South Africa. Currently, to the authors’ knowledge, no formalised investigation process exists. The contribution of the study is that by using an investigation process, it may enhance the quality of forensic investigations and contribute to the successful investigation and prosecution of commercial crime in South Africa that will be beneficial to all stakeholders.

Abusive supervisors and employees who cyberloaf

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 789-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Upasnaa A. Agarwal ◽  
James B. Avey
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Contract ◽  
Abusive Supervision ◽  
Psychological Contract Breach ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Contract Breach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the effects of abusive supervision on cyberloafing behavior, to test the mediating role of PsyCap in this relationship and the extent to which these relationships are moderated by psychological contract breach.Design/methodology/approachA total of 394 full-time managers across different Indian organizations served as the sample for this study.FindingsThe results revealed that the abusive supervision and PsyCap are significantly correlated with cyberloafing, the relationship between abusive supervision and cyberloafing is partially mediated by PsyCap and the impact of abusive supervision and PsyCap on cyberloafing is moderated by psychological contract breach such that the effects of abusive supervision and PsyCap on cyberloafing are stronger when employees perceive high psychological contract breach.Research limitations/implicationsA cross-sectional design and use of self-reported questionnaires are a few limitations of this study.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies examining cyberloafing in response to abusive supervision and one of the few attempts to examine the effects of abusive supervision on individual resources (PsyCap) in response to workplace mistreatment. This study is also the first to examine these phenomena in the Indian context.

Personal values and the features of psychological contracts

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1111-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Céu Santos ◽  
Filipe Coelho ◽  
Jorge F.S. Gomes ◽  
Carlos M.P. Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Contract ◽  
Personal Values ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Psychological Contracts ◽  
Frontline Employees ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Contract Employees ◽  
Narrow Scope ◽  
Data Driven Approach

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate how personal values relate to the psychological contract employees establish with their employers.Design/methodology/approachThe sample consisted of 223 frontline employees from a major Portuguese company. The paper used stepwise regressions analysis to test the research hypotheses.FindingsCollectivistic-oriented values were generally related to psychological contract features such as long time frame, lower tangibility, flexibility, inequality and collective regulation. Conversely, individualistic-oriented values were generally associated with a short time frame and a more tangible, stable, equal and individually regulated type of contract with a narrow scope.Research limitations/implicationsThis study uses cross-sectional data collected from a single Portuguese company. While common method bias could potentially affect the results, various procedural remedies were used to control for it. Finally, the study relied on stepwise regression, which is a data-driven approach.Practical implicationsThe study supports the contentions that internal dispositions are related to psychological contracts.Originality/valueThis paper innovates by exploring how employees’ personal values are associated with the psychological contract from a feature-oriented approach. In addition, this study was carried out in Portugal, highlighting the importance of exploring existing models and theories in different cultural contexts.

scholarly journals South African consumer sentiment towards marketing: A longitudinal analysis

2001 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Boshoff ◽  
S. M. Van Eeden
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Consumer Attitudes ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Dynamic Interaction ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Consumer Sentiment ◽  
Marketing Activities ◽  
Buying Behaviour ◽  
Over Time

A constant interaction occurs between the firm, its markets and the variables in the business environment. This dynamic interaction ensures that changes in the environment continuously exert an influence on consumer attitudes and sentiment and how consumers react to and perceive the marketing of products and services.The primary objective of this longitudinal study is to measure South African consumer sentiment towards marketing and to compare the results with previous studies done in 1990 and 1994. Secondary objectives include an investigation to establish to what extent this sentiment towards marketing is influenced by demographic variables.Although the marketing index decreased during the period 1990 to 1994, it improved dramatically during the period 1994 to 1999. In contrast to the previous studies it was established that demographic factors had no significant influence on the sentiment towards marketing in this study.As it is generally acknowledged that attitudes influence actual buying behaviour, marketers need to be aware that attitudes and sentiment toward marketing and marketing activities can change over time and proactive steps need to be taken to ensure that sentiment remains positive regardless of the changes in the external environment.

scholarly journals Relational Expectations and Transactional Obligations: Incompatible Psychological Contracts and Triadic Employment Relationships

SAGE Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402093267
Author(s):  
Jocelyn Handy ◽  
Dianne Gardner ◽  
Doreen Davy
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Contract ◽  
Psychological Contracts ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Employment Relationship ◽  
Temporary Workers ◽  
Power Bases ◽  
Employment Relationships ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Triangular Employment Relationship ◽  
Temporary Staffing

This research investigated the triangular employment relationship between organizations, temporary staffing agencies, and clerical temporary workers using the conceptual framework of the psychological contract. The rapid growth in triadic employment relationships is well documented; however, there is limited research into the interlocking psychological contracts between the three parties. This research advances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying triangular psychological contracts by drawing attention to the ways in which people’s beliefs concerning their own obligations toward others may be incommensurate with their expectations of other parties. Findings are based on semistructured interviews with 10 client organization representatives, 10 staffing agency consultants, and 20 female clerical temporaries working in Auckland, New Zealand. The interviews revealed that the three sets of participants held mutually incompatible expectations, which were shaped by their differing positions and power bases within the temporary labor market. Each group expected, or wanted, the other parties to behave toward them as if a relational psychological contract existed but perceived their obligations toward others in more transactional terms. In consequence, the expectations, goals, and actions of the three sets of participants often conflicted, creating a range of adverse outcomes, which were unintended by, and problematic for, each group within the triangular employment relationship.

Linking interactional injustice to EVLN outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 488-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arpana Rai ◽  
Upasna A. Agarwal
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Psychological Contract ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Moderated Mediation ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Moderated Mediation Model ◽  
Cross Sectional Design

Purpose The study aims to examine a moderated mediation model of effects of conscientiousness on the mediating role of psychological contract violation (PCV) on interactional injustice and employees EVLN (exit, voice, loyalty and neglect) outcomes relationships. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 422 full-time managerial employees working across different service sector-based Indian organizations was used to test the proposed moderated mediation. The analysis was performed using Hayes’ Process Macro. Findings Results revealed that (i) the effect of interactional injustice on employee EVLN outcomes is mediated through PCV and (ii) the strength of this indirect effect is dependent on individual differences in conscientiousness. As such, the overall pattern of relationships supported moderated mediation, in that, the indirect effect of interactional injustice on voice and loyalty through PCV was stronger for employees high (as compared with those low) in conscientiousness. Research limitations/implications A cross-sectional design and use of self-reported questionnaire data in the sample are a few limitations of the study. Originality/value This study advances the existing literature on interactional injustice by extending its range of outcomes as well as by examining the underlying and intervening conditions in the interactional injustice-outcomes relationship.

Individual cultural orientation as a determinant of psychological contract fulfilment

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 1315-1332
Author(s):  
Bramhani Rao ◽  
Sambashiva Rao Kunja
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Contract ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Cultural Orientation ◽  
Theoretical Implication ◽  
Psychological Contracts ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of individualism-collectivism (IC) in determining psychological contract fulfillment (PCF) at individual level, thus attempting to establish that cultural orientation of each individual may differentially predict the fulfillment of his/her psychological contract. Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modeling was conducted on the cross-sectional data collected from 465 IT professionals working at different multi-national software companies. Findings Model fit between the dimensions of IC and PCF was found to be good, indicating a significantly positive relationship between within-culture cultural orientation of an individual and his/her perception of PCF. The analyses revealed that collectivist beliefs, values and norms have a significant relationship with the perception of delivery, fairness and trust toward PCF. The relationship between collectivist values and fairness of the deal was found to be insignificant. Research limitations/implications A major theoretical implication of the study is its contribution to evidence that people with collectivist orientation have a relatively positive perception toward the fulfillment of a psychological contract between them and the employer. It also clarifies why employees working in the same work environment tend to develop unique psychological contracts owing to their tendency to orient toward a particular cultural state of mind in the form of beliefs, values and norms guiding their day-to-day work-life. Originality/value The study is a valuable addition to the current literature in two ways. First, it contributes to the area of personality by examining the individual cultural orientation as an individual difference predictor of PCF. This helps in understanding the role of differences in emotions, cognition and behavior among individuals in predicting the fulfillment of hidden expectations of employees. In the domain of psychological contract, it contributes to evidence that explains why employees in same job conditions and employment relationships experience breach or fulfillment owing to their difference in cultural orientation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document