The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Employability: a substitute for loyalty?

Employability: a substitute for loyalty?
Employability: a substitute for loyalty?
Within the theme of contemporary innovative work arrangements and new psychological contracts, a new buzzword has been introduced: employability. This paper offers an analytical assessment of the idea, how it came into life, and the prospects of its adoption by organizations. A critical review is followed by a field study conducted to examine reaction to the idea, based on exploratory, in-depth interviews with HR directors. Based on a theoretical and management development perspective, as well as logical analysis, the paper concludes that the idea is flawed. Views expressed were mostly negative. It is implied that, though the concept of employability is beneficial for individuals, it would be unacceptable for organizations to 'sell' it to employees as a replacement for long-term commitment or loyalty and trust-based relationships.
1367-8868
543-566
Baruch, Yehuda
25b89777-def4-4958-afdc-0ceab43efe8a
Baruch, Yehuda
25b89777-def4-4958-afdc-0ceab43efe8a

Baruch, Yehuda (2001) Employability: a substitute for loyalty? Human Resource Development International, 4 (4), 543-566. (doi:10.1080/13678860010024518).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Within the theme of contemporary innovative work arrangements and new psychological contracts, a new buzzword has been introduced: employability. This paper offers an analytical assessment of the idea, how it came into life, and the prospects of its adoption by organizations. A critical review is followed by a field study conducted to examine reaction to the idea, based on exploratory, in-depth interviews with HR directors. Based on a theoretical and management development perspective, as well as logical analysis, the paper concludes that the idea is flawed. Views expressed were mostly negative. It is implied that, though the concept of employability is beneficial for individuals, it would be unacceptable for organizations to 'sell' it to employees as a replacement for long-term commitment or loyalty and trust-based relationships.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 1 January 2001

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 487470
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/487470
ISSN: 1367-8868
PURE UUID: 2db597a1-5402-471d-86cf-90d646f6d6cf
ORCID for Yehuda Baruch: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-0678-6273

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 20 Feb 2024 18:21
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 03:26

Export record

Altmetrics

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×