Psychological Contracts in the Workplace: Understanding the Ties That Motivate

The article discusses aspects of psychological contracts on organizational behavior. Psychological contracts are designed to motivate workers to fulfill commitments made to employers when workers are confident that employers will reciprocate and fulfill their end of the bargain. How an employee interprets a psychological contract is shaped by many sources of information. Human resource practices such as training and performance appraisal processes can signal promised benefits and required contributions. Socialization events, particularly initial assignments to managers and co-workers, can have pervasive effects over time on the beliefs that a worker holds about the employment relationship.