Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Employee relationsPsychological contract

Understanding Psychological Contracts at Work: book review

by Personnel Today 6 Feb 2007
by Personnel Today 6 Feb 2007

Understanding Psychological Contracts at Work
Authors: Neil Conway and Rob B. Briner
Price: £19.99
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Pages: 240
ISBN: 0199280657



Buy this book at Amazon


This book is certainly not for the faint hearted, as it takes an in-depth, vigorously referenced, academic approach. However, it is still accessible and very readable.


It explores how psychological contracts were initially conceptualised, and maps out the transition using notable theoretical studies, through to how the concept is viewed today.


Although the theory is old, the concept is still relatively under-developed. The authors give an unbiased analysis of other researchers’ work, but make clear their thoughts on the ambiguities, definition issues and disagreements.


Although little is known about the concept, the authors still manage to provide a comprehensive overview of research to enable a good understanding of the key components of what is meant by psychological contracts.


One area of notable neglect, the authors claim, is the practicalities of the psychological contract in managing the employment relationship. Although there is a general awareness, the lack of critical understanding prevents meaningful application of the concept on a daily and strategic basis.


It is, however, generally accepted that a breach of the psychological contract has serious consequences for the employer – reduced effort, absenteeism and even retaliation. This book would be helpful to anyone who manages, or has influence over people.


The overall message is that psychological contract research is very much in its infancy. By the end, you may be inspired to make a contribution by embarking on your own research, and the book provides ample advice and practical frameworks to help you do this.


Useful? Five out of five stars
Well-written? Five out of five stars
Practical? Five out of five stars
Inspirational? Five out of five stars
Value for money? Five out of five stars
Overall? Five out of five stars


Reviewed by Alison Norris, HR consultancy manager, MHL Support


Tell us about your favourite book…


Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Personnel Today will soon be launching a new Careerwise slot profiling HR professionals’ best books and training products that have helped them in their careers. Send us your favourites and tell us how you were inspired. E-mail [email protected]


Click here for more HR book reviews




Personnel Today

Personnel Today articles are written by an expert team of award-winning journalists who have been covering HR and L&D for many years. Some of our content is attributed to "Personnel Today" for a number of reasons, including: when numerous authors are associated with writing or editing a piece; or when the author is unknown (particularly for older articles).

previous post
NHS trust HR directors earned an average salary of £79,114 in 2006
next post
How can employers cope with obesity in the workplace?

You may also like

‘Polygamous working’ is a minefield for HR

14 May 2025

Ofgem workers ballot for strike action

2 May 2025

Employment Rights Bill must be tightened to protect...

1 May 2025

Four ways HR can maintain trust in uncertain...

23 Apr 2025

Uber drivers experience ‘false autonomy’ over work

16 Apr 2025

Redefining employee relations for the future of work...

27 Mar 2025

BMA employees protest over pay and recognition

19 Mar 2025

P&O Ferries scandal: Employment Rights Bill must protect...

17 Mar 2025

Handling headcount conundrums as hiring confidence dips

10 Mar 2025

New employment rights top priority for HR teams

10 Mar 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+