Psychological Contracts
The psychological contract is the key to a good employment relationship.
Just like a good marriage is not only achieved by a man and a woman signing a marriage certificate, a good employment relationship is not simply obtained by both parties signing an employment contract. The behavioural link between the employer and employee, called the psychological contract among academics, makes the difference in employment relationship. Honesty, trust, respect and understanding between the employer and employee are equally important as they are to a married couple.
The following two publications will give you a fuller picture of the psychological contract:
TIPPLES, RUPERT; HOOGEVEEN, MARIA; and GOULD, ERIKO “Getting employment relationships right”, Primary Industry Management, 3, no.2, pp. 23-26, June 2000. Download file (PDF 760 KB)
TIPPLES, R. “Contracting: The key to Employment Relations”, International Employment Relations Review, December 1996, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 19-41. Download file (PDF 1.23 MB)
Balance in Employment Relationship
A balanced employment relationship is vital for the well being of a business.
In an employment relationship, it is not healthy for either party to have power over the other one. Revenge and conflict will be inevitable if one side dominates the relationship. A more balanced relationship produces harmony between the two.