Fitting square pegs into round holes: mapping the domain of contingent work arrangements onto the psychological contract

Abstract

In this paper, we have endeavored to integrate the literature on psychological contracts with the literature on contingent work arrangements. We have further developed the theoretical foundation of the psychological contract and its dimensions. After reviewing previous work on contingent employment, we illustrate how the dimensions of psychological contracts (stability, scope, tangibility, focus, time frame, particularism, multiple agency and volition) highlight the differences and similarities among alternative employment arrangements in a meaningful and parsimonious manner. In doing so, we have sought to offer an alternative to the categorization of employment arrangements that has, thus far, made comparisons across studies difficult. In addition, we argue that the dimensions of psychological contracts, more so than the content of these contracts, are more generalizable across various types of work arrangements, as well as across different types of jobs and across national boundaries. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.