Temporary and permanent agency workers. A study of perceived organizational support and dual commitment

Abstract Purpose – This study aims to analyze the effects of the type of agency contract on the relationship between agency workers’ organizational commitment and perceived organizational support. Design/methodology/approach – The authors extend a previously developed model considering organizational support and affective commitment by including also continuance commitment in the Italian employment agency industry. The authors use a probabilistic stratified sampling method on a sample of 8,283 agency workers. Data were analyzed with structural equation modelling (SEM) and multiple group analyses. Findings – The findings confirm the positive relationship between perceived organizational support from both the agency and the client organization and agency workers’ affective commitment to them. The authors also find that agency workers develop a mutually related dual commitment in response to the support they receive from both organizations. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the literature on agency workers and suggests useful managerial and policy makers interventions for both temporary work agencies and client organizations for the development of the agency industry as well as the well-being of workers. Keywords Agency workers, Dual commitment, Perceived organizational support, Multiple group analysis, Probabilistic stratified sampling method Paper type Research paper