Fitting square pegs into round holes: mapping the domain of contingent work arrangements onto the psychological contract

In this paper, we have endeavored to integrate the literature on psychological contracts with the literature on contingent work arrangements. After reviewing previous work on contingent employment, we illustrate how the dimensions of psychological contracts (stability, scope, tangibility, focus, time frame, particularism, multiple agency and volition) are more useful in highlighting differences and similarities among alternative employment arrangements in a meaningful and parsimonious manner. In doing so, we have sought to avoid the limitations of a typology or categorization of employment arrangements that has, thus far, yielded inconsistent and contradictory research results. In addition, we argue that the dimensions of psychological contracts, rather than the content of contracts, is more generalizable across type of work arrangement, as well as across different types of jobs and across national boundaries.

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