The Job Insecurity of Others: On the Role of Perceived National Job Insecurity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Political scientists and sociologists have highlighted insecure work as a societal ill underlying individuals’ lack of social solidarity (i.e., concern about the welfare of disadvantaged others) and political disruption. In order to provide the psychological underpinnings connecting perceptions of job insecurity with societally-relevant attitudes and behaviors, we introduce the idea of perceived national job insecurity. Perceived national job insecurity reflects a person’s perception that job insecurity is more or less prevalent in his/her society (i.e., country). Across three countries (US, UK, Belgium), we find that higher perceptions of the prevalence of job insecurity in one’s country is associated with greater perceptions of government psychological contract breach and poorer perceptions of the government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis, but at the same time is associated with greater social solidarity and compliance with COVID-19 social regulations. These findings are independent of individuals’ perceptions of threats to their own jobs.

Abusive Supervision and Its Impact on Knowledge Hiding Behavior Among Sales Force

The purpose of this study is to test the relationship between abusive supervision and employee’s knowledge hiding behavior (evasive hiding, playing dumb, rationalized hiding) among sales force of insurance companies in Pakistan. The paper also strives to theoretically discuss and then seek empirical evidence to the mediational paths of psychological contract breach that explain the focal relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding. To test the proposed hypotheses, the study draws cross-sectional data from sales force of insurance companies working in Pakistan. Data were collected through structured questionnaire and using convenient sampling technique. The final sample of 340 valid and complete responses analyzed using structured equation modeling (partial least square) approach. Results showed that abusive supervision is positively related to employee’s knowledge hiding behaviors. Also, mediating variable psychological contract breach partially mediates the abusive supervision-knowledge hiding behavior linkage. Current study has tested the positive relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding behaviors unlike most of the previous investigations that have focused on knowledge sharing behavior. The study also empirically investigated the mediational route of psychological contract breach, that explains the blame attributed by the beleaguered employee that led to covert retaliatory behavior, such as knowledge hiding. This paper contributes to knowledge hiding literature which is an important part of knowledge management from the perspective of abusive supervision based on both reactance theory and SET theory.

Psychological contract breach moderates job satisfaction–citizenship behaviour relationship

PurposeThis study finds out if a satisfied physician will show citizenship behaviour (OCB) in a work environment where psychological contract breach (PCB) exist.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative data from 214 physicians across 26 health-care units were analysed. Research philosophy was positivism, research design was explanatory and study design was cross-sectional. Preliminary tests were conducted. Reflective measurement and structural models were examined. PLS algorithm tool and bootstrapping procedure were utilised. Control variables were sex, age, employment type and tenure. A significant level was set at 5%. Smart PLS 2.0M.3 software was employed.FindingsThe scientist found support for a significant moderating effect of PCB on the nexus between job satisfaction (JST) and OCB, such that PCB demoralised a satisfied physician in showing OCB. In contrast, a fulfilled psychological contract motivated satisfied physicians to exhibit OCB.Practical implicationsPCB, if not addressed, may lead satisfied physicians to show low OCB, which has devastating effects for health-care organisations and their patients. Creating balanced, fulfilled and harmonious relationship within physicians will transform the workplace into a more meaningful and purposeful atmosphere.Originality/valueThis study offers empirical health-care literature on the moderating effect of PCB, a psychosocial stressor, on the direct relationship between JST and OCB, integrating and lengthening the social exchange theory, resource-based theory and activation theory.

Impact of individual psychological contract breach on organizational citizenship behavior at individual level: Mediating role of trust in supervisor

This study investigates the relationship between individual psychological contract breach on organizational citizenship behavior at individual level and to test the mediation effects of trust in supervisor. The study was carried out in software industry of KPK, Pakistan. Data was gathered from 337 operational level executive (i.e. executive, assistant manager, manager) through randomly selected sampling method. Numerous statistical techniques (correlation, regression) had been used to deduct the results. Results indicate that individual psychological contract breach significantly predicts organizational citizenship behavior at individual level and with trust in supervisor and fully mediates the indirect relationship between individual psychological contract breach and organizational citizenship behavior at individual level. This research also provides the empirical evidence regarding significance of individual psychological contract grounded on social exchange and affective events theory in the context of KPK, Pakistan. Lastly, contribution of study, limitations and future directions are also discussed.

Psychological Contract Breach and Union Commitment Revisited: Evidence from Chinese Employees

From the social exchange theory, this study examines the relationship between psychological contract breach, organizational cynicism, and union commitment, as well as the interaction effect of perceived union dual identity on the relationship between organizational cynicism and union commitment. We argue that contract breach has a positive impact on union commitment, and this relationship is mediated by organizational cynicism. Moreover, we suggest that the perceived union dual identity moderates the relationship between the two. To examine this, we sampled 371 employees of Chinese non-state-owned firms in 2019. The results show that, in the Chinese context, the psychological contract breach has a positive impact on organizational cynicism and union commitment. This relationship is weaker when the perceived union identity (state-oriented) is higher; it is stronger when the perceived union identity (labor-oriented) is higher.

Do individuals combine different coping strategies to manage their stress in the aftermath of psychological contract breach over time? A longitudinal study (Article accepted for publication by the Journal of Vocational Behavior)

This study examines the dynamic interaction between perceptions of psychological contract breach (PCB), negative emotions, and stress over time. Additionally, we determine if individuals could be differentiated based on coping profiles, and further assessed whether emotional and stress reactions to PCB over time varied as a function of these profiles. Using a longitudinal design, a sample of 1077 employees working in various industries completed a monthly questionnaire for six consecutive months reporting their perceptions of PCB, negative emotions, stress reactions, and ensuing coping mechanisms. Results from the latent growth analysis revealed that individuals confronted with increasing levels of PCB over time reported growing stress following their escalating negative emotions. Moreover, the latent profile analysis of coping performed in two randomly selected subgroups revealed that there were three coping profiles within our sample (i.e., low copers, average-problem-focused copers, high-problem-and-emotion-focused copers). We found evidence for different trajectories of negative emotional and stress reactions to PCB over time depending on the different coping profiles. As such, individuals endorsing high levels on all three types of coping but relatively higher levels on emotion-focused and problem-focused coping compared to avoidance coping were associated with the most favorable psychological functioning over time (i.e., no escalation in emotional and stress reactions to PCB over time). In contrast, individuals endorsing low levels on all three types of coping reported less favorable psychological functioning in the long term. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of our findings and offer recommendations for future research.