Psychological contract, engagement and employee discretionary behaviours: Perspectives from Uganda
International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management
ISSN: 1741-0401
Article publication date: 11 September 2017
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediation effect of employee engagement on the relationship between employer obligations, employee obligations and state of the psychological contract and employee discretionary behaviours.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data were collected using self-administered questionnaires with 278 participants from 11 commissions and three agencies in the public service in Uganda. The authors used hierarchical regression analysis to investigate the hypotheses.
Findings
The results indicate that employer obligations, employee obligations and state of the psychological contract were positively related to employee discretionary behaviours. In addition, employee engagement was found to be a partial mediator between employee obligations, employer obligations and state of the psychological contract and discretionary behaviours among for both subordinate and supervisory staffs.
Originality/value
Since little is known about the process by which public service commissions and agencies in Uganda promote employer obligations, employee obligations and state of the psychological contract on discretionary behaviours, this paper contributes to the literature by examining human resource management practices in a developing country context.
Keywords
Citation
Kasekende, F. (2017), "Psychological contract, engagement and employee discretionary behaviours: Perspectives from Uganda", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 66 No. 7, pp. 896-913. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-07-2016-0136
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited