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Relational Expectations and Transactional Obligations: Incompatible Psychological Contracts and Triadic Employment Relationships

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  • Jocelyn Handy
  • Dianne Gardner
  • Doreen Davy

Abstract

This research investigated the triangular employment relationship between organizations, temporary staffing agencies, and clerical temporary workers using the conceptual framework of the psychological contract. The rapid growth in triadic employment relationships is well documented; however, there is limited research into the interlocking psychological contracts between the three parties. This research advances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying triangular psychological contracts by drawing attention to the ways in which people’s beliefs concerning their own obligations toward others may be incommensurate with their expectations of other parties. Findings are based on semistructured interviews with 10 client organization representatives, 10 staffing agency consultants, and 20 female clerical temporaries working in Auckland, New Zealand. The interviews revealed that the three sets of participants held mutually incompatible expectations, which were shaped by their differing positions and power bases within the temporary labor market. Each group expected, or wanted, the other parties to behave toward them as if a relational psychological contract existed but perceived their obligations toward others in more transactional terms. In consequence, the expectations, goals, and actions of the three sets of participants often conflicted, creating a range of adverse outcomes, which were unintended by, and problematic for, each group within the triangular employment relationship.

Suggested Citation

  • Jocelyn Handy & Dianne Gardner & Doreen Davy, 2020. "Relational Expectations and Transactional Obligations: Incompatible Psychological Contracts and Triadic Employment Relationships," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:10:y:2020:i:2:p:2158244020932672
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244020932672
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Lars W. Mitlacher, 2007. "The Role of Temporary Agency Work in Different Industrial Relations Systems — a Comparison between Germany and the USA," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 45(3), pages 581-606, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Pedro Ferreira & Sofia Gomes, 2022. "Temporary Work, Permanent Strain? Personal Resources as Inhibitors of Temporary Agency Workers’ Burnout," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-13, July.

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