oa Opleidingsbereidheid bij tijdelijke versus vaste werknemers in relatie tot attitudes, welzijn en gedrag

Willingness to follow training among temporary versus permanent workers in relation to attitudes, well-being and behavioural intentions

Nele De Cuyper & Hans De Witte, Gedrag & Organisatie, Volume 19, September 2006, nr. 3, pp. 290-306

We investigate differences between temporary and permanent workers concerning their willingness to follow training. We moreover assess the extent to which willingness adds in explaining engagement, organizational commitment, life satisfaction and performance. Willingness to follow training concerns either the internal or the external labour market (internal versus external willingness). Expectations are based on (1) Human Capital Theory, (2) literature on boundaryless careers and the new psychological contract, and (3) ideas on temporary employment as a stepping stone to permanent employment. Results (N = 559) show that temporaries as compared to permanents report higher internal willingness. They do not differ on external willingness. Furthermore, both internal and external willingness positively relate to the outcomes, except for life satisfaction. The effects of internal willingness on engagement and organizational commitment are moreover stronger among temporaries than among permanents.