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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.
Psychological contract breaches have been found to predict turnover intentions, increased sickness, stress and conflict. Development of the term The term was first introduced by Chris Argyris in 1960 and developed significantly by Denise Rousseau in 1989 in the seminal paper “Psychological and implied contracts in organizations”.
- 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
Sep 14, 2024 · 1. Transactional Psychological Contracts: These are the most straightforward type. They’re all about the quid pro quo – “I work, you pay me.” Think of a short-term contractor or a seasonal worker. Their psychological contract might be limited to expecting fair pay for their work and not much else. 2.
Aug 19, 2022 · It is not an idea that allows one party to manipulate the other. A psychological contract isn’t something concrete you can hold like a job contract. It’s abstract, an idea. As well as being abstract, it constantly changes. Its rules and rewards are different in every workplace. Denise Rousseau developed the concept of the psychological ...
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 ...
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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.
