Globally, workplace bullying is a growing phenomenon which affects millions of employees. It is characterised by frequency of incidence, duration and reaction on the side of both the perpetrator and victim, ultimately caused by power struggles in ineffective working environments. The impact on both the Company and employee is significant and there is a negative impact on the employment relationship. It may lead to reduced performance and productivity, individual health problems, impact on job satisfaction and foster intentions to quit. The primary objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of workplace bullying in a South African Information Technology (IT) company, and determine the impact of this construct on job satisfaction and intention to quit. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The constructs were measured by means of a biographical questionnaire, the Negative Acts Questionnaire Revised, a Job Satisfaction Questionnaire and an Intention to Quit Questionnaire. Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients were used to assess the validity and reliability of the measuring instruments. The phi-coefficient was used to determine effect size and power of the chi-square tests for independence (Aron, Elliot, & Aaron, 2011). The research method for the articles consisted of a literature review and an empirical study. The statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS 20.0 programme (SPSS 2012). Article 1 focuses on the prevalence and measurement of workplace bullying in an IT company. Descriptive statistics (frequencies) and cross tabulations were used to describe the data. Significant relations were found in constructs within the negative acts, and also between the negative acts and biographical information. Article 2 focuses on the relation between workplace bullying, job satisfaction and the intention to quit in an IT company. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, standard deviations, skewness and kurtosis) were determined to describe the data, principal component analysis was used and an Oblimin rotation was performed to determine the constructs for analysis. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between these constructs. Significant relations and difference are found between the various individual constructs and the scores of the negatives acts, job satisfaction and intention to quit. Conclusions are made for the current research, limitations discussed and recommendations for future research are put forward. / Thesis (MCom (Labour relations management))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

Globally, workplace bullying is a growing phenomenon which affects millions of employees. It is characterised by frequency of incidence, duration and reaction on the side of both the perpetrator and victim, ultimately caused by power struggles in ineffective working environments. The impact on both the Company and employee is significant and there is a negative impact on the employment relationship. It may lead to reduced performance and productivity, individual health problems, impact on job satisfaction and foster intentions to quit. The primary objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of workplace bullying in a South African Information Technology (IT) company, and determine the impact of this construct on job satisfaction and intention to quit. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The constructs were measured by means of a biographical questionnaire, the Negative Acts Questionnaire Revised, a Job Satisfaction Questionnaire and an Intention to Quit Questionnaire. Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients were used to assess the validity and reliability of the measuring instruments. The phi-coefficient was used to determine effect size and power of the chi-square tests for independence (Aron, Elliot, & Aaron, 2011). The research method for the articles consisted of a literature review and an empirical study. The statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS 20.0 programme (SPSS 2012). Article 1 focuses on the prevalence and measurement of workplace bullying in an IT company. Descriptive statistics (frequencies) and cross tabulations were used to describe the data. Significant relations were found in constructs within the negative acts, and also between the negative acts and biographical information. Article 2 focuses on the relation between workplace bullying, job satisfaction and the intention to quit in an IT company. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, standard deviations, skewness and kurtosis) were determined to describe the data, principal component analysis was used and an Oblimin rotation was performed to determine the constructs for analysis. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between these constructs. Significant relations and difference are found between the various individual constructs and the scores of the negatives acts, job satisfaction and intention to quit. Conclusions are made for the current research, limitations discussed and recommendations for future research are put forward. / Thesis (MCom (Labour relations management))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

Employees across the world experience change in the workplace due to a fast-fluctuating environment in which organisations operate. According to Maumo and Kinnunen (1999) a transformation has taken place in the industrialised world of work over the last few decades. Downsizing, right-sizing or restructuring have become familiar terms in difficult economic conditions and implies that rationalising of jobs are inevitable. Organisations attempt to reduce costs, which in turn places pressure on employees to modify their jobs, seek alternative employment (intention to quit) and relocate, all of which are likely to fuel job insecurity (Hartley, Jacobson, Klandermans & Van Vuuren, 1991; Iyo & Brotheridge, 2004). The unemployment rate in South Africa is one of the highest in the world with 36% of its citizens being unemployed in 1999 (Kingdon & Knight, 2001). What's more is that, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, 4.1 million people in South Africa were classified as unemployed in 2009. Frequent reorganisation and statements regarding flexibi lity are signals that one's job security is not secure. Even vague signals of downsizing or change may encourage employees to have intention to quit (Iyo & Brotheridge, 2004). When organisations start to downsize, some people may expect to become unemployed. Sverke, Hellgren and Naswall (2002) state that organisational change is an antecedent to job security. Mauna and Kunnunen (1999) agrees that objective circumstances of an insecure job situation can be defined as the experience of job insecurity, while according to De Witte (1999) the growing emphasis on more flexible employment contracts also intensify feelings of job insecurity. Job insecurity has been found to predict stronger intention to quit within the organisation (Ashford, Lee & Bobko, 1989). This means that a flexible, multiskilled, knowledgeable, interchangeable and adaptable workforce are exposed to new management techniques as well as altered labour relations/human resource policies and activities, which in turn influence employers' obligations, employees' obligations, the state of the psychological contract, job insecurity and employees' intention to quit (Ekkerd, 2005). The primary objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between the psychological contract, individual characteristics, job insecurity and the intention to quit of security employees (N=217) in the Vaal Triangle. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Constructs were measured by means of the psychological contract (employer obligations, employee obligations and the state of the psychological contract), an "individual characteristics" questionnaire, a job insecurity questionnaire and an intention to quit questionnaire. The research method for each of the two articles consists of a brief literature review and an empirical study. Factor analyses, as well as Cronbach alpha coefficients were computed to assess the reliability. Validity of the different product moment correlation coefficients, and regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the constructs employed in this research. Significant differences are found between various individual characteristics and the scores of the psychological contract (employer obligations scale, employee obligations scale and the state of the psychological contract scale), the individual characteristics questionnaire, job insecurity scale and the employee's intention to quit scale. A practically significant correlation was found with a small effect between the state of the psychological contract, employer obligations and employee obligations. Results demonstrate a significant relationship between the psychological contract, type of contract, gender and tenure. No significant relationship was found between the psychological contract and age and qualification of the employees. Multiple regression analysis indicates that employee obligations predicted negative intention to quit. Job insecurity predicted positive intention to quit. Conclusions are made, limitations of the current research are discussed and recommendations for future research are put forward. / MCom. Industrial Psychology, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

Employees across the world experience change in the workplace due to a fast-fluctuating environment in which organisations operate. According to Maumo and Kinnunen (1999) a transformation has taken place in the industrialised world of work over the last few decades. Downsizing, right-sizing or restructuring have become familiar terms in difficult economic conditions and implies that rationalising of jobs are inevitable. Organisations attempt to reduce costs, which in turn places pressure on employees to modify their jobs, seek alternative employment (intention to quit) and relocate, all of which are likely to fuel job insecurity (Hartley, Jacobson, Klandermans & Van Vuuren, 1991; Iyo & Brotheridge, 2004). The unemployment rate in South Africa is one of the highest in the world with 36% of its citizens being unemployed in 1999 (Kingdon & Knight, 2001). What's more is that, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, 4.1 million people in South Africa were classified as unemployed in 2009. Frequent reorganisation and statements regarding flexibi lity are signals that one's job security is not secure. Even vague signals of downsizing or change may encourage employees to have intention to quit (Iyo & Brotheridge, 2004). When organisations start to downsize, some people may expect to become unemployed. Sverke, Hellgren and Naswall (2002) state that organisational change is an antecedent to job security. Mauna and Kunnunen (1999) agrees that objective circumstances of an insecure job situation can be defined as the experience of job insecurity, while according to De Witte (1999) the growing emphasis on more flexible employment contracts also intensify feelings of job insecurity. Job insecurity has been found to predict stronger intention to quit within the organisation (Ashford, Lee & Bobko, 1989). This means that a flexible, multiskilled, knowledgeable, interchangeable and adaptable workforce are exposed to new management techniques as well as altered labour relations/human resource policies and activities, which in turn influence employers' obligations, employees' obligations, the state of the psychological contract, job insecurity and employees' intention to quit (Ekkerd, 2005). The primary objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between the psychological contract, individual characteristics, job insecurity and the intention to quit of security employees (N=217) in the Vaal Triangle. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Constructs were measured by means of the psychological contract (employer obligations, employee obligations and the state of the psychological contract), an "individual characteristics" questionnaire, a job insecurity questionnaire and an intention to quit questionnaire. The research method for each of the two articles consists of a brief literature review and an empirical study. Factor analyses, as well as Cronbach alpha coefficients were computed to assess the reliability. Validity of the different product moment correlation coefficients, and regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the constructs employed in this research. Significant differences are found between various individual characteristics and the scores of the psychological contract (employer obligations scale, employee obligations scale and the state of the psychological contract scale), the individual characteristics questionnaire, job insecurity scale and the employee's intention to quit scale. A practically significant correlation was found with a small effect between the state of the psychological contract, employer obligations and employee obligations. Results demonstrate a significant relationship between the psychological contract, type of contract, gender and tenure. No significant relationship was found between the psychological contract and age and qualification of the employees. Multiple regression analysis indicates that employee obligations predicted negative intention to quit. Job insecurity predicted positive intention to quit. Conclusions are made, limitations of the current research are discussed and recommendations for future research are put forward. / MCom. Industrial Psychology, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

Research on the quality of work life, job satisfaction and intention to quit of emotional labor ¢w based on the examples of the receptionists of Chunghwa Telecom. Abstract With change of industrial structure and structure of labor force, service sector has become the major trend of the economical society in lieu of agriculture and industry, and play quite an important role in the global economic. The service quality has always been a competitive tool emphasized by the organizations among the service sectors. Therefore, the primary service personnel turn to be the key factor deciding whether the service quality is good or not. Rafaeli & Sutton (1989) thought that customers viewed a whole and overall impression on those organizations out of the emotions expressed by the employees. When emotions are turned from private behaviors to commercialization, the organizations also start to think how to make use of a variety of managerial methods to let the emotional labors performance their best at work. Since relative research on emotional labor is not mature theoretically, and the job behavior, characteristic, outcomes etc. of the performers of such fields are not that clear relatively, this research tends to proceed an empirical research on the job behavior and feeling of the emotional labors (the receptionists) of the service sector (Chunghwa Telecom), in order to flesh out the relative empirical explores on such field, and wish to provide appropriate advices through the explored outcomes of this research; moreover, these can be important references to management proposal of the emotional labor human resources while the companies are being transformed (privately owned by the people). This research used the questionnaire, and adapted the descriptive statistical analysis, validity analysis, factor analysis, t-test on independent samples, one-way ANOVA, Pearson¡¦s relative and regressive analysis to explore the relationship among the quality of work life, the job satisfaction and intention to quit of the receptionists, and further took the job satisfaction as the moderating factor to explore its moderating effect to the relationship between the job satisfaction and intention to quit. The important findings are as follows: 1.The receptionists identify themselves least with the ideas that the quality of work life is based on the components of the company system and growth of esteem. 2.The receptionists are discontented most with that external satisfaction is based on the components of job satisfaction. 3.The receptionists tend to quit generally. 4.The receptionists tend to be of middle and old aged from the view of distribution of overall age. 5.There are significant positive correlations and positive influences on the quality of work life and job satisfaction of the receptionists; especially, the relation and ability of the components of superiors¡¦ attitude to predict external satisfaction are the highest; moreover, the relation and ability of the components of job nature to predict internal satisfaction and general satisfaction are the highest. 6.There are significant negative relative and negative influences on the job satisfaction and intention to quit of the receptionists; especially, the relation and ability of the components of external satisfaction to predict the intention to quit are the highest. 7.There are significant negative relative and negative influences on the quality of work life and intention to quit of the receptionists; especially, the relation and ability of the components of company system to predict the intention to quit are the highest. 8.Only partial moderating effect exists between the relationships of job satisfaction versus quality of work life and intention to quit. Key words: emotional labor, quality of work life, job satisfaction, intention to quit

The comprehension of how job satisfaction impacts on an employee’s intention to quit is critical to an organisation. Consulting engineering firms who do not retain their skill sets will not survive. Knowledge of the relationship between job satisfaction and intentions to quit will allow managers to manipulate the variables that increase job satisfaction, which in turn can minimise an organsation’s employee turnover rate. A theoretical analysis was done. As an empirical analysis, a targeted cross-sectional survey by means of a standardised questionnaire was sent to 3 000 (three thousand) engineers, technicians and technologists registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). Multiple regression analysis was done and Spearman Correlation Coefficients were used to indicate the relationships between variables. Achievement was the factor that was most significantly related to job satisfaction and intention to quit. The strong negative relationship between job satisfaction and intention to quit was confirmed, the effect of which would be that the more job satisfaction increases, the more intention to quit decreases. Management techniques that consist of supervisory consideration, participative decision making, performance feedback and communication are therefore advocated. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The comprehension of how job satisfaction impacts on an employee’s intention to quit is critical to an organisation. Consulting engineering firms who do not retain their skill sets will not survive. Knowledge of the relationship between job satisfaction and intentions to quit will allow managers to manipulate the variables that increase job satisfaction, which in turn can minimise an organsation’s employee turnover rate. A theoretical analysis was done. As an empirical analysis, a targeted cross-sectional survey by means of a standardised questionnaire was sent to 3 000 (three thousand) engineers, technicians and technologists registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). Multiple regression analysis was done and Spearman Correlation Coefficients were used to indicate the relationships between variables. Achievement was the factor that was most significantly related to job satisfaction and intention to quit. The strong negative relationship between job satisfaction and intention to quit was confirmed, the effect of which would be that the more job satisfaction increases, the more intention to quit decreases. Management techniques that consist of supervisory consideration, participative decision making, performance feedback and communication are therefore advocated. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Magister Commercii - MCom / Job Satisfaction and the Intention to Quit are two factors that a synonymous with each other. Various research and studies have been conducted over the years indicting that there is a direct relationship between job satisfaction and intention to quit, suggesting that these factors often result in employees with low levels of job satisfaction resigning from the organisations they are employed at. Therefore the objective of this study was to examine those factors that affect job satisfaction and the intention to quit amongst employees at a small to medium auditing firm in South Africa. Demographic factors such as age, gender, marital status, tenure (length of service), number of dependents and qualification was used to establish the impact it had on employee's job satisfaction levels and their intention to quit. The study was conducted using a quantitative, non-probability, convenience sampling method. The sample group consisted of all permanent employees (N = 350) of an auditing firm with nine (9) offices across South Africa. The one hundred and fifteen (115) participants who voluntarily completed the questionnaires were made up of the CEO, Directors, Managers and employees within the Audit and Assurance, Accounting, Internal Auditing, Consulting and Group Services spectrum. They were required to complete an online biographical questionnaire (BQ), the Work Satisfaction and Motivation Questionnaire (WMQ) as well as the Michigan Organisational Assessment Questionnaire – Intention to Quit (ITQ), was used in order to gather relevant data for the study. Participants were informed that their participation was voluntary, anonymous and strictly confidential. All participants were informed of the purpose of the study and all ethical issues were clarified. Data was analysed by making use of the following data analysis techniques: descriptive, inferential, the Pearson product–moment correlation coefficient and ANOVA statistics. The results indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between job satisfaction and intention to quit amongst the sample of the auditing firms employees. There was also a significant relationship between pay and job satisfaction with a converse relationship between pay and intention to quit. Furthermore, the findings of the current study indicated that when taking into consideration the significant relationship between job satisfaction and intention to quit in relation to various biographic factors, there was no significant difference between different age groups, male or female, number of children (dependents) an employee had, their marital status or the qualifications that they held.However, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference between length of services and job satisfaction, but that there was a significant difference when taking into account the impact length of service had on the intention to quit. Recommendations were made and limitations for future research discussed in order to provide insight to the organisation stemming from the current study.

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively investigate if workload, job satisfaction and work engagement could contribute to employees’ intention to quit in healthcare and which factor contributes this to the highest degree. A questionnaire was sent out to all 21 regions in Sweden and to private hospitals, and was shared on LinkedIn and Facebook. The criterion for participating in the study was that the respondents should work in healthcare with direct patient contact and a total of 67 responses were received. The questionnaire was based on questions from the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ III) och Ulrecht Work Engagemant Scale (UWES). The results showed that workload, job satisfaction and work engagement together contribute employees’ intention to quit in healthcare. The factor that contributes intention to quit to the highest degree was job satisfaction.

The present era in South Africa is one that is marked by substantial change due to unparalleled advancement in the field of technology, globalisation and competitive markets. These changes have placed new demands on the education sector in South Africa, especially further education. In 2000/1 South Africa's Further Education and Training (FET) sector has been rejuvenated through a process of transformation when 152 former Technical Colleges and Colleges of Education merged to form 50 multi-campus FET Colleges. The rationale behind this merging process is to curb the serious skills shortage which is threatening economic growth in this country through offering vocational education and training; and to raise quality in the education sector. This re-engineering process in education is founded on principles of equity, human rights, democracy and sustainable development. Change, however, is also about people and their ideas, fears, capacity and ability to stand and work together towards a more prosperous future for all. Transformation or change such as with mergers is dependent on employees' total commitment towards realising the organisation's objectives. High levels of organisational commitment tend to encourage loyalty, higher levels of productiveness and general job satisfaction. For change initiatives to be successful though, communication across all hierarchical levels is of the utmost importance. Management is expected to provide employees with just treatment, provide acceptable working conditions, clearly communicate what is regarded as a fair day's work, and give feedback on how well the employee is doing. Employees, in return, are expected to clearly show a good attitude, follow directions and be loyal towards x the organisation. The psychological contract is utilised to investigate the scope of change in an employment relationship. The psychological contract is a contract setting out mutual expectations between employer and employee - a contract that forms the backbone of any new relationship such as with a merger. The researcher makes use of the psychological contract (by utilising the Tilburgse Psychologisch Contract Vragenlijst (TPC)) to explain employer obligations; violation of employer obligations; employee obligations; relational/transactional contract values; commitment; intention to leave; and change perceptions. Should either employment party not fulfill its contractual terms in any way, the psychological contract will be breached or violated and the employee might attempt to balance the situation by reducing his or her job efforts, badmouthing the organisation, resorting to absenteeism or even petty theft. The worst case scenario in this destructive process is that the employee might leave the organisation. The purpose of this research study is to determine the effect (if any) that the mergers might have had on the psychological- and employment contracts in the four FET Colleges that have remained in the Free State Province. A cross-sectional survey design was used to reach the objective of this research and an English translation of the aforementioned questionnaire (TPC) was randomly distributed amongst the total population of 375 employees at the Free State FET Colleges involved in this study. A response rate of 53% (n = 200) was achieved. Results from other authors who have used the TPC Questionnaire in their research offer support for the validity and reliability of the scales used. The statistical analysis was carried out with the SPSS program (SPSS, 2006), a program that is used to conduct statistical analysis regarding reliability and validity of the measuring instruments, descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance, correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. XI In Article 1 the researcher focused on the effect of mergers with regard to the influence of communication on the psychological contract as a possible factor affecting the intention to qUit. A multiple regression analysis (with intention to quit as dependent variable; and employer obligations, employee obligations, and communication as independent variables) was performed and 22.2% of the variance in intention to quit is predicted by communication and employee obligations (F = 28.07, p< 0.01). A practically significant correlation coefficient (p < 0.01) of a medium effect (r > 0.30) exists between communication and relational/transactional values and between communication and intention to quit. In Article 2 the effect of mergers, workplace changes and the violation of employer obligations on the psychological contract were evaluated, with special reference to job satisfaction and organisational commitment. In the above article a practically significant correlation coefficient (p < 0.01) of a medium effect (r> 0.30) was found between • change and job satisfaction; • job satisfaction and: commitment, employer obligations, employer violations; • commitment and: employer obligations, employer violations; and • employee obligations and: employer obligations, employer violations. A multiple regression analysis (with job satisfaction as dependent variable; and employer violation, organisational commitment, and change as independent variables) was performed and 29.9% of the variance in job satisfaction is predicted by employer violations, change and commitment (F = 27.668, p< 0.01). Recommendations for the organisation as well as for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Sociology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2008.