The risk of job insecurity: Effects on health and well-being

Job insecurity is the perception of being threatened by job loss and concerns about the continued existence of one's job in the future. A new review of 57 longitudinal studies suggests that job insecurity negatively affects psychological well-being and physical health. The results imply that companies and governments should make an effort to reduce the perceived threat of job insecurity.

De Witte, H., Pienaar, J., & De Cuyper, N. (2016). Review of 30 years of longitudinal studies on the association between job insecurity and health and well-being: Is there causal evidence? Australian Psychologist, 51(1), 18-31.

The costs of job insecurity: Deviant behavior and turnover

Deviant behavior directed toward individuals and the organizational workplace (e.g., aggression, taking company property) as well as turnover can turn workplaces into hostile environments and cost companies a lot of money. A new study found that employees who experience more job insecurity also show a higher amount of deviant behavior and intention to leave. Job insecurity is the subjective perception of being threatened by job loss, and concerns about the continued existence of the job in the future. Companies should thus have an incentive to reduce perceived job insecurity among their employees in order to prevent negative behaviors at work and unwanted job exits by employees. 

Huang, G.-h., Wellman, N., Ashford, S. J., Lee, C., & Wang, L. (2016, September 12). Deviance and exit: The organizational costs of job insecurity and moral disengagement. Journal of Applied Psychology. Advance online publication.