Abstract
The Effect of Workplace and Personal Resources to Counteract Job Insecurity amongst Causal and Contract Staff Working in an Australian Regional University
12th EAOHP Conference: Book of Proceedings, p.48
European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology: Occupational Health Psychology in Times of Change: Society and the workplace, 12th (Athens, Greece, 11-Apr-2016–13-Apr-2016)
2016
Abstract
Employment conditions in higher education in Australia are changing with an increasing reliance on casual and contract staff in academic, administrative and research-focused areas. The current study explored how personal and workplace resources of staff without permanent, on-going appointments could mitigate the effects of inherent insecurity on job outcomes, such as job satisfaction, for employees at a regional university. It was expected that staff with more resources would be less affected by worries about job insecurity. Volunteers (n=130, 21.7% response rate) from casual and contract staff completed a crosssectional, online survey about workplace conditions (e.g., job autonomy, fairness), personal resources (e.g., dispositional optimism), factors of job security (e.g., felt insecurity, employability), and the outcomes of job satisfaction, organisational commitment, burnout (as emotional exhaustion, cynicism and professional efficacy), and turnover intentions. Qualitative comments added the most challenging and rewarding aspects of their work. Participants (75% female) were aged 19 to 73 years (M = 44.7, SD =12.2) and in academic (n = 57), administrative (n = 60), and research-focused (n = 13) roles. Most participants (n = 103) had university qualifications. Hierarchical multiple regressions entered personal resources (Block 1), workplace resources (Block 2), and job security factors (Block 3) for each outcome. Over and above all others, fairness was the strongest predictor of job satisfaction (β = .50***), affective organisational commitment (β = .47***), emotional exhaustion (β = -.31**) and cynicism (β = -.22*), with optimism and self-efficacy remaining significant predictors of these outcomes. Turnover intentions were predicted by lack of employment prospects and skill discretion, rather than personal or workplace resources. To further examine the causal pathways, additional analyses explored how job insecurity and fairness mediated the effect of personal resources on these outcomes, finding that the indirect pathways, particularly from fairness, added significantly to the total effects of the models. Finally, the qualitative comments indicated that the absence of fairness (e.g., inadequate preparation and/or supervision of work) and uncertainty of future job prospects made work challenging, whilst positive interactions with students (e.g., mentoring their academic outcomes) and supportive colleagues made work rewarding. In conclusion, rather than job insecurity per se being problematic, where staff felt that they were fairly treated by management, they remained satisfied and committed to their work and avoided burnout. The participants in this study by the nature of their employment were already more insecure than staff in permanent positions. Fairness implies a just process of knowing when work will be available, and how that work will be done. Combined with self-efficacy and optimism, and good employment prospects, university management can address these areas to retain a valuable part of their workforce.
Details
- Title
- The Effect of Workplace and Personal Resources to Counteract Job Insecurity amongst Causal and Contract Staff Working in an Australian Regional University
- Authors
- Prudence M Millear (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastMark Nugent (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Contributors
- Kevin Teoh (Editor)Vlad Dediu (Editor)Nathalie Jean Sadde (Editor)Juliet Hassard (Editor)
- Publication details
- 12th EAOHP Conference: Book of Proceedings, p.48
- Conference details
- European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology: Occupational Health Psychology in Times of Change: Society and the workplace, 12th (Athens, Greece, 11-Apr-2016–13-Apr-2016)
- Publisher
- European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology
- Date published
- 2016
- ISBN
- 9780992878627
- Organisation Unit
- School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Engage Research Lab; School of Health - Psychology; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451472302621
- Output Type
- Abstract
Metrics
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