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Do workers speak up when feeling job insecure? Examining workers’ response to precarity during the COVID-19 pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Rho, Hye Jin
  • Riordan, Christine
  • Ibsen, Christian Lyhne
  • Lamare, J. Ryan
  • Tapia, Maite

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic inflicted unprecedented precarity upon workers, including concerns about job insecurity. We examine whether workers respond to job insecurity with voice, and assess the role of unions, managers, and employment arrangements in this relationship. Analyses of an original 2020 survey representative of Illinois and Michigan workers show that job insecurity is not significantly associated with voice. Further, while we find that union membership and confidence in organized labor are positively associated with voice, insecure workers are less likely to speak up than secure workers as confidence in organized labor increases. Last, we find that insecure nonstandard workers are less likely to use voice than their secure counterparts.

Suggested Citation

  • Rho, Hye Jin & Riordan, Christine & Ibsen, Christian Lyhne & Lamare, J. Ryan & Tapia, Maite, 2023. "Do workers speak up when feeling job insecure? Examining workers’ response to precarity during the COVID-19 pandemic," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 125305, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:125305
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/125305/
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Johnny Hellgren & Antonio Chirumbolo, 2003. "Can Union Support Reduce the Negative Effects of Job Insecurity on Well-Being?," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 24(2), pages 271-289, May.
    2. Magnus Sverke & Sjoerd Goslinga, 2003. "The Consequences of Job Insecurity for Employers and Unions: Exit, Voice and Loyalty," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 24(2), pages 241-270, May.
    3. Magnus Sverke & Johnny Hellgren, 2001. "Exit, Voice and Loyalty Reactions to Job Insecurity in Sweden: Do Unionized and Non‐unionized Employees Differ?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 39(2), pages 167-182, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; employment precarity; job security; nonstandard work; unions; voice;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General

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