In Europe as well as in other industrialized economies all over the world employment
relations have undergone profound transformations over the last decades. Large numbers of
workers have been displaced involuntarily employed part-time or hired on temporary employment
contracts. The increasing flexibility in the staffing of organizations is experienced by many
employees as a threat to the continuation of their employment relationships. A growing body of
research suggests that such job insecurity can be of fundamental importance from the
occupational health perspective as well as the managerial due to its effects on employees'
work attitudes and well-being. This book addresses the nature of job insecurity and
investigates its consequences for individuals the organizations they work for as well as
their labor unions. It also examines whether factors associated with union membership help
employees to cope with employment uncertainty. The book is based on a European project
involving Belgium Italy the Netherlands and Sweden. Both individuals and organizations alike
are harmed by the increased insecurity that prevails in working life today. By identifying and
explaining those factors which result in job insecurity and examining how the experience
affects individuals organizations and unions the authors wish to expand the body of
knowledge concerning job insecurity. Such knowledge can lead to a greater focus on this
phenomenon within working life and result in greater effort being put into understanding how
preventative measures can be implemented in the future.
