Job insecurity, job satisfaction and work locus of control of employees in a government organisation

Abstract

Tremendous pressure is placed on organisations to improve their performance and to become increasingly competitive. In order to survive in a highly competitive economy, organisations are undergoing major restructuring and can no longer guarantee employees with life time employment, leading to job insecurity. The primary objectives of this research were to investigate the relationship between job insecurity and job satisfaction of employees (N = 298) in a government organisation, as well as to determine whether work locus of control mediates the relationship between job insecurity and job satisfaction. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Constructs were measured by means of the Job Insecurity Survey (JIS), the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), the Work Locus of Control Scale (WLCS) and a biographical questionnaire. Results indicated that a practically significant relationship exists between job insecurity and job satisfaction. It was further found that external locus of control is associated with high levels of job insecurity and lower levels of job satisfaction. Regression analyses confirmed the partially mediating of work locus of control on the relationship between cognitive job insecurity and job satisfaction. Conclusions and recommendations were made.