Preview

I/O Psychology and the Union

Best Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2842 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
I/O Psychology and the Union
Introduction
Industrial organizational psychology is very important in the workplace for encouraging productive worker attitudes and behaviors and for the selection of applicants in the most effective manner (Pond III, 1999). In today’s world, there is a great demand for equal employment, equal pay and a satisfying yet productive workplace. These demands present many challenges for the organization and for I/O psychologists. Even more challenging are these same demands in a unionized workforce.
A union is a group of workers who formed to make decisions about the conditions of their work (Trade union, 2007). Members of a union often earn better wages, health care and pension benefits, have more flexibility for work and family needs, and have a voice in enhancing the quality of their products and services. Employers and union officials negotiate a contract that spells out the worker’s rights on the job.
Without a union, the employer has the power to make all of the policies. The workers have very few rights and no voice or appeal against unfair rules (Smith, 2007). With unions, workers have rights to seniority, safety, and union representation. Other benefits of union membership include overtime pay, paid leaves, negotiated wages, health insurance, and pension plans.
Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this paper is to identify some of the challenges organizations and unions face in the unionized workforce within the areas of I/O psychology. Areas of I/O psychology such as job analysis, performance appraisal, assessment methods for selection and placement, training, motivation, job satisfaction, productivity, and the work team concept will be addressed. Much of the content of this paper regarding unions will be focused on the United Auto Workers because I am a member of and most familiar with this union. By examining these challenges, I hope to offer suggestions that will bring the union and the organization together to continuously improve and



References: Amble, B. (2007). Is corporate America cutting its own throat? Management-Issues Ltd. Retrieved on October 7, 2007 from http://www.management-issues.com/2007/9/27/research/is-corporate-america-cutting-its-own-throat.asp. Bacal, R. (1998). Performance management. New York: McGraw-Hill. Behling, O. & Starke, F.A. (1973). The postulates of expectancy theory. Academy of Management Journal, vol. 16, pp. 373-388. Doucouliagos, C. & Laroche, P. (2003). What do unions do to productivity? A meta-analysis. Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 42, no. 4, October 2003, pp. 650-691. Dunnette, M.D. & Hough, L.M. (1994). Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology (2nd ed., vol. 4). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press. Glueck, W.F. (1979). Personnel: A book of readings. Dallas, TX: Business Publications. Gomberg, W. (1947). A labor union manual on job evaluation, the relationship of industrial engineering techniques to collective bargaining. Chicago, IL: Labor Education Division, Roosevelt College. Heathfield, S.M. (2007) Profit sharing. Retrieved November 14, 2007, from http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryp/g/profit_sharing.htm. Hoque, K. & Bacon, N. (2006) Trade union recognition, union learning representatives and training incidence in Britain. British Universities Industrial Relations Association (BUIRA) Conference, Galway, June-July. Hume, D.A. (1995). Reward management employee performance, motivation and pay. Oxford, UK: Blackwell. Hunter, L.W., MacDuffie, J.P., & Doucet, L. (2002). What makes teams take? Employee reactions to work reforms. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, vol.55, no. 3 (April 2002), pp.448-472. Livingstone, D.W. & Raykov, M. (2005). Union influence on worker education and training in Canada in tough times. Just Labour, vol. 5, Winter 2005, 50-64. Pond III, S.B. (1999). Industrial-organizational psychology: The psychology of people working together. Eye on Psi Chi, vol. 3, no.3, Spring 1999, pp.34-37. Profit sharing Smith, S.E. (2007). What is a union? Retrieved October 17, 2007, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-union.htm Spector, P.E

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Best Essays

    Course Project Gt 591

    • 4537 Words
    • 14 Pages

    References: Aamodt, M.G. (2007). Industrial/Organizational Psychology: An Applied Approach (5th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth Corporation.…

    • 4537 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    BUS 372 Entire Course

    • 647 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Changing Landscape of Unions. At the inception of unions, its members consisted of “blue-collar” workers concentrated in the manufacturing sector. Today, only about 35% of union...…

    • 647 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Spector, P.E. (2012). Industrial and organizational psychology: Research and practice (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley…

    • 1408 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Organizational and Industrial (I/O) psychology is used to improve different types of organizational functions. When tasks and employee relationships are not working properly within a company production and profit will be compromised. Some of the issues that I/O manages addresses include poor work habits and dysfunctional work relationships. The following will address group and team concepts that could be implemented to improve performance and diversity, leadership theories that can improve the relationship between management and floor workers, the influence and power of the management and how it affects the workplace, and the difference between leadership and management.…

    • 2272 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    psy435 week2

    • 810 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The purpose of this assignment is to examine the fundamental concepts of the field of industrial/organizational psychology. Using the textbook, the University Library, the Internet, and/or other resources, answer the following questions. Your responses to each question will vary but overall should be 700- to 1,050-words in length.…

    • 810 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jex, S. M., & Britt, T. W. (2008). Organizational psychology: A scientist-practitioner approach (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.…

    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The purpose of this assignment is to examine the fundamental concepts of the field of industrial/organizational psychology. Using the textbook, the University Library, the Internet, and/or other resources, answers the following questions. Your responses to each question will vary but overall should be 700- to 1,050-words in length.…

    • 1899 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    An industrial-organizational psychologist studies different aspects of the work environment, such as leadership, job satisfaction, on the job stress, and communication among employees. An industrial-organizational psychologist is brought in by organizations as consultants to solve particular problems. They apply research methods and psychological principles to improve productivity, management and marketing problems, as well as facilitate organizational development and change, and identify training and development needs. I/O psychologists often work for more than one organizational setting; they may also choose to teach in universities and colleges (Jex, 2008).…

    • 930 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Week 5 Assignment 5

    • 1021 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Oreg, Shaul; Berson, Yair. Personnel Psychology. Autumn2011, Vol. 64 Issue 3, p627-659. 33p. 1 Diagram, 2 Charts, 1 Graph. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-6570.2011.01221.x. , Database: Business Source Elite…

    • 1021 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Most Industrial and Organizational psychologists do several different positions in a wide variety of situations (Spector, 2012). Those psychologists whom concentrate on industrial and organizational psychology are generally separated between both…

    • 663 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Unions

    • 1052 Words
    • 5 Pages

    I compiled my research during the week of March 20, 2008. The resources chosen for the bibliography are all articles that cover the trade unions and their impact on the economy. These sources provided answers to the questions used during my research. For example; how the economy is affected by the unions? By using a wide variety of opposing view points I can also illustrate the how the unions have supported the economy in the past, but are not necessary for today.…

    • 1052 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Trade Unions In Canada

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Since the Industrial Revolution, unions have been credited with creating improvements in working conditions, improving wages, and providing security in the workforce. Most unions were developed in manufacturing and resource companies such as companies operating in steel mills, textile factories and mines. Eventually, however, unions began to expand into other industries. Today, most unions are found in transportation, utilities and government. Unions grew rapidly from the 1930’s to 1950’s, however it is clear that the presence of unions has decreased significantly from the 1960’s to present. Throughout this essay, a popular current topic of discussion will be examined to determine is whether unions are past their prime or if they…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    School Counselor Analysis

    • 1274 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Spector, P. E. (2012). Industrial and organizational psychology: Research and practice (6th Ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.…

    • 1274 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Informed Consent

    • 1051 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Ilgen, D.R. & Bell, B.S. (2001). Conducting Industrial and Organizational Psychological Research: Institutional Review of Research in Work Organizations. Ethics and Behavior, 11, 395-412.…

    • 1051 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Dunnette, M. & Hough, L. (1990) Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology. 2nd edition. Palo Alto, Consulting Psychologists Press.…

    • 1795 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays

Related Topics