IBS Lunchtime Research Seminar - Contextual effects on job insecurity and work engagement: Longitudinal evidence from the UK Higher Education Sector

You are cordially invited to attend an IBS lunchtime research seminar by Dr Rita Fontinha Henley Business School. Please join us in Room 108, Henley Business School. If you have not received the email invite please email Jana Oslejova.

Please make sure you let me know in advance if you intend to attend in person so that the correct amount of catering is booked.

Title: Contextual effects on job insecurity and work engagement: Longitudinal evidence from the UK Higher Education Sector

Date: Wednesday 22nd March 2023

Time: 13.00 – 14.15pm

Teams – A Teams link to the seminar is included for those who cannot attend in person, however attendance in person is preferred.

Abstract

We examine the determinants of work engagement among UK academics at two stages of the Covid-19 pandemic: a month after the first complete UK lockdown (March-April 2020 – Time 1) and at a recovery stage in terms of academic work (October-November 2021 – Time 2). Theoretically grounded in the Job-Demands Resources model, we found that overall engagement levels did not differ significantly at the two stages of the pandemic, apart from levels of vigour which were higher at Time 2. Levels of perceived job insecurity decreased, and perceived employability increased. We found that job insecurity was negatively associated, and perceived employability positively associated, with all engagement dimensions at both times, but these relationships became stronger at Time 2, as labour market conditions improved for everyone. While men (vs women) and non-British nationals (vs British nationals) had their engagement levels significantly affected during the first stages of the pandemic, these effects became non-significant at Time 2. We outline the implications for IHRM in a context of macro-economic turbulence, advancing an agenda for future research and practice.