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Subtle Cutback Management and Exhaustion: Qualitative Job Insecurity as a Mediator in a Sample of Dutch and Belgian Employees

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  • Yvette Akkermans

    (Faculty of Management, Open Universiteit, 6419 AT Heerlen, The Netherlands)

  • Dave Stynen

    (Faculty of Management, Open Universiteit, 6419 AT Heerlen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

As an answer to crises such as COVID-19, organizations implemented more subtle forms of cutback measures such as wage moderation, loan sacrifice and recruitment freezes aimed at maintaining a financially healthy organization. In this study, the association between subtle cutback management and employee exhaustion was studied, and it was investigated whether this potential linkage can be explained by employee perceptions of increased qualitative job insecurity or the fear that valued features of the job will decrease in the near future. This research thereby extends prior research on the consequences of cutback management as well as regarding the antecedents of qualitative job insecurity. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on a sample of workers (N = 218) active in various organizations in the Netherlands and Belgium. Regression analysis was applied to test hypotheses. Mediation was investigated by means of Hayes PROCESS macro. The results of the study indicate that there is no direct relationship between subtle cutback measures deployed at the workplace and employee exhaustion. However, the analyses further reveal that subtle cutback management is positively related to the experience of qualitative job insecurity in workers and that enhanced qualitative job insecurity is positively related to employee exhaustion. Qualitative job insecurity fully mediates the relationship between subtle cutback management and employee exhaustion.

Suggested Citation

  • Yvette Akkermans & Dave Stynen, 2023. "Subtle Cutback Management and Exhaustion: Qualitative Job Insecurity as a Mediator in a Sample of Dutch and Belgian Employees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:9:p:5684-:d:1135874
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Irina Nikolova & Karen van Dam & Joris Van Ruysseveldt & Hans De Witte, 2019. "Feeling Weary? Feeling Insecure? Are All Workplace Changes Bad News?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Margherita Brondino & Andrea Bazzoli & Tinne Vander Elst & Hans De Witte & Margherita Pasini, 2020. "Validation and measurement invariance of the multidimensional qualitative job insecurity scale," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 54(3), pages 925-942, June.
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