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  • A psychometric assessment of a human resources practice measure for temporary agency workers
    Publication . Sobral, Filipa; Chambel, Maria José; Castanheira, Filipa; Cesário, Francisco
    Studies have proposed and validated several measures that evaluate employee's perceptions of the human resources practices (HRP). However, given the changes occurring in the labor market, there is a need to develop a measure specially adapted to the contingent workers specific employment relationship. Thus, this study assesses an HRP system scale that was administered to temporary agency workers (TAW) to examine the scale's response process, internal structure and relation to other variables (i.e., affective commitment). The measure was administered to 4,551 Portuguese TAW. The Messick's validation framework (1995) was use and two sectors were compared. Descriptive analyses, scale reliabilities, item characteristics, exploratory, confirmatory, and multiple group analyses demonstrated that the measure had good psychometric properties. Moreover, there were positive correlations between the HRP scale and affective commitment. The results contribute to a better understanding of managing TAW's in agencies and client companies. HRP are a valuable method for "communicating" with these workers, who are then able to recognize and respond to the investment. This is the first study to develop and assess the psychometric properties of an HRP system measure for TAW and to cross-validate it with workers' affective commitment towards both companies that are involved in this employment relation.
  • Dealing with temporariness: generational effects on temporary agency workers’ employment relationships
    Publication . Sobral, Filipa; Ng, Eddy S.; Castanheira, Filipa; Chambel, Maria José; Koene, Bas
    Purpose: A major trend in the changing nature of work is the increasing use of temporary workers. Although common among students, older employees have joined the ranks of temporary workers as they extend their work lives. Temporary workers tend to report lower affective commitment and consequently poorer work outcomes. However, different generations of workers may conceive temporary work differently from each other. The purpose of this paper is to explore how different generations of temporary workers, respond to human resource practices (HRP), which in turn influences their affective commitment and work performance. Design/methodology/approach: The sample is comprised of 3,876 temporary agency workers (TAWs) from seven temporary employment agencies in Portugal. The authors undertook multiple group SEM analyses to test a moderated mediation model that accounts for TAWs’ affective commitment (toward the agency and the client company) across three generations (Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials) in the relationship between human resources practices and overall perceived performance. Findings: After controlling for gender, age and tenure, the authors find generational differences in the perceptions of HRP and perceived performance. The results support the moderator effect of generations in the direct and indirect relationships – through both affective commitments – between TAWs’ perceived HRP and perceived performance. Research limitations/implications: The cross-sectional design limits the possibility to make causal inferences. Originality/value: This study contributes to a better understanding of how different generations respond to temporary employment relationships. The findings suggest important differences in the way in which the same HRP system relates (directly and indirectly thorough affective commitment toward the client) with their perceived performance across different generations.
  • When temporary agency work is not so temporary
    Publication . Chambel, Maria José; Sobral, Filipa
    Theory and empirical research have provided mixed arguments and evidence for the effects of temporary agency work on workers’ well-being. One unresolved issue is how length of service in agency work affects workers’ well-being and behaviour. This study, based on Self-Determination theory, explored this question by comparing the motives for temporary agency employment and the well-being of workers who have had this employment status for different periods of time. From a sample of 3300 Portuguese temporary agency workers, the study compared three groups who had been engaged in temporary agency work for (1) up to 6 months, (2) between 7 and 12 months and (3) between 13 and 24 months. Regression analyses, controlling for background variables and job insecurity perception, showed that longer periods of temporary agency working were associated with lower autonomous and voluntary motives for temporary employment, workplace well-being and well-being outside work. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
  • Garra dos líderes e capital psicológico dos liderados: uma exploração concetual de condições moderadoras
    Publication . Rego, Arménio; Sobral, Filipa; Simões, Ana; Duarte, Cátia; Reis, Francisco; Quaresma, Inês; Guimarães, Maria; Teixeira, Maria; Cunha, Miguel Pina e
    A garra (termo aqui traduzido de grit) tem sido encarada como crucial para o sucesso dos indivíduos e a eficácia dos líderes, embora alguns autores não sustentem essa tese. A investigação empírica é escassa e pouco conclusiva. Um possível caminho para melhor compreender este construto passa por considerar condições moderadoras. Aqui discutimos três dessas condições: (1) garra veiculada pelo líder versus garra autoatribuída; (2) humildade expressa pelo líder; (3) apoio social expresso pelo líder. O modelo concetual argumenta que o líder que veicula mais garra perante os liderados desenvolve o capital psicológico destes, mas esse efeito é mitigado, ou mesmo anulado, se o líder for desprovido de humildade e não facultar apoio social aos liderados. Distintamente, o líder estimula o capital psicológico dos liderados se, além de veicular garra, também expressar humildade e apoio social aos liderados.