Fair Treatment and Job Satisfaction: A Multilevel Analysis of Employment Transition

TL;DR

This study explores how fair treatment affects job satisfaction when workers transition from temporary to regular employment in Korean public organizations.

Contribution

The study introduces a multilevel analysis linking individual perceptions of fairness and organizational HR practices during employment transitions.

Findings

Perceived fair treatment after regularization is positively linked to job satisfaction.

Organizational HR practices enhance perceptions of fair treatment.

Government support moderates the relationship between fair treatment and job satisfaction.

Abstract

Drawing on organizational justice theory, this study examines how workers’ perceptions of fair treatment influence job satisfaction following the transition from temporary agency employment at subcontracting firms to regular employment with client firms. A multilevel analysis was conducted to simultaneously assess individual- and organizational-level effects. Data were collected through a survey of Korean public organizations that had implemented regular employment transitions, yielding a final sample of 966 employees nested within 116 institutions. At the individual level, perceived fair treatment after regularization was positively associated with job satisfaction. At the organizational level, systematic human resource management practices enhanced employees’ perceptions of fair treatment, while government support during the transition process—including the provision of clear guidelines and professional consulting—moderated the relationship between perceived fair treatment and job satisfaction. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how fair treatment perceptions shape employee attitudes following employment regularization and highlight the role of organizational human resource practices and government involvement in fostering positive outcomes during labor market transitions.

Figures