The Importance of Respecting the Psychological Contract by Managers

Abstract

The paper wants to be an alarm signal that non-compliance with the psychological contract by managers can negatively affect the organizational climate. The paper starts with a selection of the most important aspects of the literature on the psychological contract. The results of this study from secondary sources are interpreted in terms of the current socio-economic context, showing the possible negative influences of economic crises and pandemics such as COVID-19 on compliance with the psychological contract in organizations. The situations of violation of the psychological contract by the management can be numerous in this context. Therefore, the paper then presents an exploratory research conducted online, the respondents being employed in various companies in the Sibiu County (Romania). The main objectives of the research were to find out the importance of the psychological contract for employees and how it is or is not respected by managers. The results showed that the psychological contract is very important for respondents, but their perceptions of compliance with it are influenced by the crises faced by the organization. Another important conclusion shows that, in the opinion of the employees, many managers from the organizations in Sibiu County do not respect the psychological contract.