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Differences between Private and Public Sector Employees’ Psychological Contracts

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  • A. WILLEM
  • A. DEVOS
  • M. BUELENS

Abstract

The extent to which private and public sector employees differ in the importance they attach to different types of inducements being part of their employment deal and their evaluations of these inducements is studied. We focus on five content dimensions of the psychological contract: career development opportunities, job content, financial rewards, social atmosphere and respect for private life. Data from a survey of 4956 Belgian employees show that, compared to private sector employees, public sector employees are motivated by other inducements. In particular, they attach less importance to career development opportunities and financial rewards promises in their psychological contracts, and perceive these promises as less fulfilled.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Willem & A. Devos & M. Buelens, 2007. "Differences between Private and Public Sector Employees’ Psychological Contracts," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 07/440, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    • Handle: RePEc:rug:rugwps:07/440
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. A. De Vos & D. Buyens & R. Schalk, 2003. "Psychological Contract Development during Organizational Socialization: Adaptation to Reality and the Role of Reciprocity," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 03/194, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    2. Claudio Lucifora & Dominique Meurs, 2006. "The Public Sector Pay Gap In France, Great Britain And Italy," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 52(1), pages 43-59, March.
    3. R. Coomber, 1997. "Using the Internet for Survey Research," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 2(2), pages 49-58, June.
    4. Tom Redman & Ed Snape, 2005. "Unpacking Commitment: Multiple Loyalties and Employee Behaviour," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(2), pages 301-328, March.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Samuel Adams & Fanny Adams Quagrainie & Edem Kwame Mensah Klobodu, 2014. "Psychological contract formation: The influence of demographic factors," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 17(3), pages 279-294, September.
    3. Jalal Khademi & Kaj Björkqvist & Patrik Söderberg, 2020. "The Relationship between Physical Punishment at Home and Victimization from Peer Aggression at School in Adolescents in Iran and Finland: A Mediator‒Moderator Analysis," European Journal of Social Sciences Education and Research Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 7, ejser_v7_.

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