In SA alone 121476 formal sector jobs were lost last year. The growth in performance management and performance-related pay also increased job insecurity. Making earnings more dependent on individual effort increased uncertainty, as has the consequences of unemployment. This has led to occupational downgrading and more people being in and out of work with inferior working conditions. Modifications in employment protection regulation, a decline in collective bargaining, growth in short-term contracts and use of agency and casual employment all add to insecurity.
Polls suggest more employees feel insecure than in the past.
It can be argued that most manual workers have always felt insecure. The difference now is that more professional and managerial employees feel the same way thanks to downsizing, mergers and acquisitions, and plant closures. Heery and Salmon hedge their bets. It may seem obvious that companies which seek the loyalty, commitment and trust of those who work for them would stress employment retention. The need for job security is stressed by human resource management gurus as crucial for improved performance and a high quality workplace.