A Theoretical Assessment of Dismissal Rates and Unit Performance, With Empirical Evidence

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Maltarich, Mark A.; Reilly, Greg; DeRose, Chris
• 署名单位: University of South Carolina System; University of South Carolina Columbia; University of Connecticut
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/apl0000448
• 发表日期: 2020
• 页码: 527-537
• 关键词: turnover; involuntary turnover; dismissals; performance; utility

摘要

Unit-level dismissal rates have rarely been studied, but utility analysis suggests that increasing dismissal rates can improve performance by increasing the contribution of a unit's workers. This proposition comports with other theory around dismissals but contradicts substantial empirical evidence. We extend the staffing utility framework, taking a multilevel perspective and attending to both within- and between-unit effects of dismissal rate practices. We test our theory in monthly observations from 1,047 retail locations over almost 3 years. Our results explain how between-unit associations between workforce contribution and unit performance can mask the within-unit benefit of increasing dismissal rates. This insight reconciles theory with prior evidence, although some researchers have interpreted them to be at odds. A better understanding of the complex causes and consequences of dismissal rates has the potential to open new avenues of research and inform practice in ways that promote unit effectiveness.