Moderating effects of contingent work on the relationship between job insecurity and employee safety

The recent global financial crisis has resulted in heightened levels of employee job insecurity, as well as an increased reliance on a contingent workforce. The purpose of the current study was to examine the conjoint effects of these factors on employee safety-related outcomes. Using survey data from a sample of 1228 employees from a variety of different private and public organizations in Italy, we tested theoretically-derived competing vulnerability and immunity hypotheses regarding the interaction between contingent work and job insecurity. Our results generally supported the vulnerability hypothesis, suggesting that contingent work coupled with job insecurity significantly increase employee risk for poor safety-related outcomes. Specifically, under conditions of job insecurity, contingent workers displayed more adverse safety-related outcomes (e.g., worse safety compliance, safety knowledge, and safety participation) compared to permanent workers. However, the accuracy of their accident reporting was increased under conditions of job insecurity, compared to permanent employees. We discuss these findings in light of important concerns about the safety of contingent workers in the wake of the most recent economic and financial crisis.