The job insecurity of others: On the role of perceived national job insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic
Schoss, Mindy ; Van Hootegem, Anahi ; Selenko, Eva ; De Witte, Hans
Economic and Industrial Democracy
2023
44
2
May
385-409
epidemic disease ; job insecurity ; government attitude
USA ; United Kingdom ; Belgium
Unemployment
https://doi.org/10.1177/0143831X221076176
English
Bibliogr.
"Political scientists and sociologists have highlighted insecure work as a societal ill underlying individuals' lack of social solidarity (i.e., concern about the welfare of disadvantaged others) and political disruption. In order to provide the psychological underpinnings connecting perceptions of job insecurity with societally-relevant attitudes and behaviors, in this article the authors introduce the idea of perceived national job insecurity. Perceived national job insecurity reflects a person's perception that job insecurity is more or less prevalent in their society (i.e., country). Across three countries (US, UK, Belgium), the study finds that higher perceptions of the prevalence of job insecurity in one's country is associated with greater perceptions of government psychological contract breach and poorer perceptions of the government's handling of the COVID-19 crisis, but at the same time is associated with greater social solidarity and compliance with COVID-19 social regulations. These findings are independent of individuals' perceptions of threats to their own jobs."
Digital
The ETUI is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the ETUI.