Experience layoffs, work engagement and the buffering effect of POS: a psychological contract perspective
ISSN: 0048-3486
Article publication date: 6 August 2024
Issue publication date: 12 November 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the relationship between experience layoffs and employees’ work engagement. Drawing on the psychological contract theory, we examine the parallel mediating role of cognitive and affective job insecurity, along with the moderating role of perceived organisational support.
Design/methodology/approach
The hypotheses were tested based on data collected from 737 employees of companies in various industries in China in an online survey.
Findings
The results showed the significant effect of experiencing layoffs on employees’ work engagement through cognitive and affective job insecurity, and the effect was stronger when perceived organisational support was lower. The moderated mediation effect mainly occurred through affective job insecurity but not cognitive job insecurity.
Originality/value
This study deepens the understanding of the mechanism of the negative effect of experiencing layoffs and the boundaries of its impact from a psychological contract breach perspective. By analysing the mediating role of cognitive and affective job insecurity, we have enhanced our understanding of the exchange-based mechanism of employees after experiencing layoffs. By examining the moderating role of perceived organisational support, we reveal the important role of supportive behaviours of organisations in mitigating the negative effects of experiencing layoffs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study is sponsored by The Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities in China (Grant No. 2722021BZ032), The Department of Education (2021) Annual Key Project (Grant No. 21D015), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 72302019), and The Ministry of education of Humanities and Social Science project (Youth Fund projects) (Grant No. 23YJC630120).
Citation
Huang, H., Cai, Z., Zhao, W. and Zhou, Z. (2024), "Experience layoffs, work engagement and the buffering effect of POS: a psychological contract perspective", Personnel Review, Vol. 53 No. 9, pp. 2257-2272. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-09-2022-0645
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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