Search results
The psychological contract is a key part of the unwritten agreements between employers and employees. It goes beyond what’s written in job descriptions. It includes the unspoken promises and expectations that shape the workplace. Definition and Concept. A psychological contract is the unspoken trust between an organization and its workers.
- The Definition
- The Pros
- The Cons
- The Impact on The Bottom Line
As editor, I have written about this form of ‘contract’ on occasion. Below is an excerpt from The Importance of the Psychological Contract. Vera Hillman, a former HR Exchange Network contributor, has also written about the concept. In her piece, The Psychological Contract: Relevance for Our Everyday Business Operations, Hillmann outlined what she c...
Having defined the psychological contract in greater detail, let us turn the focus now to the pros and cons.
Not-On-Paper
As previously mentioned, the psychological contract is not a physical contract; it’s not documented in any way. This makes it very difficult to execute. In fact, some say it is for this reason alone a PC cannot actually be defined as a contract.
Inconsistent
The psychological contract isinconsistent. Every single employee develops their own PC with the company. While these contracts may be similar across the board, they are still just as unique as each member of the company workforce.
Redundant
There are some that believe the concept of the psychological contract is redundant, even obsolete. Why? There are other ways to measure the employee-employer relationship. This includes employee engagement and pulse surveys.
Like it or not, the psychological contract is real and in force for every employee. Ignoring this fact can be a detriment to the company. Why? These contracts, while the responsibility of both parties, are not created by the employer, but the employee. Additionally, they can change those contracts on a whim and there is no notice required to the em...
- Mason Stevenson
This bond is known as the psychological contract. Unlike a formal employment agreement, it operates on an intangible level, which might sound like something out of a Harry Potter novel! But rest assured that psychological contracts are very real and wield immense power in the workplace.
Third, as past research on psychological contract breaches and fulfillment and their outcomes has primary focused on employment relationships, currently, some proposals are trying to apply the psychological contract approach to other not work-related relationships, as the link between students and universities or doctoral supervisory relationships . These attempts of widening the application ...
The psychological contract significantly affects what keeps employees engaged and motivated. According to a report by Tiny Pulse, lack of trust in managers, no recognition, and low work-life balance all play a significant factor in an employee’s decision to leave a company and can lead to an employee mentally “checking out” from their job long before they hand in their resignation.
The CIPD factsheet on the psychological contract explains why a psychological contract is often difficult to define: "People’s perceptions of employers’ obligations are often informal and imprecise. They may be inferred from actions (even towards other employees), or from what has happened in the past."
People also ask
What is a psychological contract?
What makes a good psychological contract?
Is a psychological contract fair?
How difficult is it to enforce a psychological contract?
Is a psychological contract a pro or a con?
Is a psychological contract effective?
May 21, 2024 · A psychological contract refers to the unspoken assumptions and expectations that exist between an employer and an employee. Psychological contracts, at least in theory, facilitate a positive employer-employee relationship based on a set of mutually agreed upon ground rules, informal arrangements, or mutual beliefs. The vast majority of employees follow a set of uncodified rules in the ...
