The Psychological Contract in the Workplace
Lets start off with what I actually mean by a psychological contract, it’s the unspoken cardinal rules of what you can and cannot get away with at work. It’s not set out on paper but it’s heavily implied through dress, times of meetings, how often the seniors “work from home”.
It creates the expectations of what managers want from their employees especially if employed from within, as the PC has been embedded in their work ethic from the day they started. The manager and employee PC has got to match otherwise their will be frustrations. However what is unequal is the way in which the match has to take place. I’m a lover of math and equations so please let me explain this in the best way I know how.
M-Manager E- Employee (-)Lax Psychological contract (+)Strict Psychological contract
=IF M= (-) + E=(+) then happy manager
=IF M=(+) + E= (-) Then unhappy manager
=IF M=(-) + E= (-) Happy employee at first, but with no deadline enforcement or self-drive deadlines are missed and employees become bored.
= M=(+) + E=(+) Happy manager at first, until workload is increased and expectations of managers become unrealistic and unsustainable.
Sundays are the days in which you get your laundry, meals and life ready for the working week, Friday afternoon is where you abandon your work life and unplug, provided you work the standard Mon-Fri. The next time one of these days comes up, ask yourself these 5 questions.
- Can I inplug? Can I forget about work for the weekend and not be expected to be called regarding a work project or a task due or shifts that need to be covered?
(a) I can unplug but that doesn’t mean that their isn’t work to be done
(b) My time is my time, my manager can call me but I will be busy.
(c) Yes Absolutely, we complete what we need to in the week or it rolls over.
(d) I like to do it as it gives me me time to focus on what I love to do. - Have you ever been tempted to go to work while you are sick?
(a) I wouldn’t need to but if I don’t then I fall behind on my work
(b) I’m sick because of work, why would I want to go there
© No, I take as many days as I like, sick or not
(d) Always, what is even “sick” anyways - How do you view lateness?
(a) I like to be their early, I even get there before my manager
(b) I’ve been disciplined for lateness before
( c) I get there when I get there, if not I will work from home
(d) I’m an hour early and have a brief with my senior - How do you view your work-life balance
(a) I could get more done at work if they gave it to me, I have too much spare time at work I like to busier than is required
(b) I can’t wait to leave at the end of the day tbh
( c) I work to live the life I want, I see it no other way.
(d) My work is my life, I enjoy working at home even after hours
5. How to you view praise?
(a) I don’t need it, but I get it.
(b) Praise, what is praise? Is that the same as raise?
( c) I would definitley do more than I do with some more praise
(d) I don’t need it and I don’t get it
If you got mostly A’s your manager is laid back and you’re their work horse, they can always count on you to do what is required, they don’t put any time restraints on you and you do what is needed in the time that is needed. If you crave more work, ask! It will look even better, or relax a bit, but don’t become their bitch, you know what I mean. They may be stealing your glory, set a standard they are happy with seeing. Don’t break your neck trying to do more when you are already doing enough.
If you got mostly B’s you need a new job or manager, or both. It seems like you’re a missmatch and a few more wrong moves could leave you to getting fired. To crawl back some brownnie points, ask for some more work and do it, and most importantly listen. If you work in the service industry, ask to pick up some more shifts and get to work early and start straight away, make sure your manager see’s. However if they have impecibly high standards and yours are the standard, speak to HR. Or look for another job where your standard is the standard of the manager you work for.
If you got mostly C’s you are either in a none-competative workplave or self employed. You are close to going down the road of simply not caring and becoming a problem to your company if your manager doesn’t stay on the lax path with you. If self employed, unless you are gifted and can manage your tasks without working hard then good on you, but you will slowly lose custom, as your lateness and relaxed attitude to your clients needs won’t come off well. Regardless of how you come across in personality. They won’t want to pay for your lack of commitment!
And if you got mostly D’s welcome to the stress dr’s office, unless your manager takes a large chill pill and actually starts to credit you with your work, you will work and work and reap no reward. If you’re a woman with no children don’t even think of getting pregnant. You don’t have the time. You have all the work ethic of being a manager your self, but don’t micromanage, so speak to your manager and HR about progression, after all you deserve it, and a possible change to your contract as it no longer reflects the effort you put into the business. If you are self employed, then remember that you are human and for heavens sake, give yourself a break before you burn out!
