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Psychological contract profiles among permanent and temporary agency workers

Maria J Chambel (Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal)
Laura Lorente (Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain)
Vânia Carvalho (Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal)
Isabel Maria Martinez (Department of Psychology, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain)

Journal of Managerial Psychology

ISSN: 0268-3946

Article publication date: 8 February 2016

1985

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This study is part of a larger research project “Temporary agency workers’ transitions: motives, experiences and outcomes – PTDC/MHC-PSO/4399/2012” founded by the Foundation of Science and Technology from Portuguese Government. This grant is gratefully acknowledged. The authors are grateful to Lois Tetrick, René Schalk and two anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions on earlier drafts of this paper.

Citation

Chambel, M.J., Lorente, L., Carvalho, V. and Martinez, I.M. (2016), "Psychological contract profiles among permanent and temporary agency workers", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 79-94. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-02-2014-0070

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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