ABSTRACT
In this chapter we discuss the theoretical underpinnings of employee psychological contracts and the impact of change on the implied employment relationship, with particular reference to individual employee expectations of the need to strike a healthier balance between employment commitments and their home lives. The concept of psychological contracts has gained a greater relevance as the relationship that individuals have with their organization changes ever rapidly. Closer examination of psychological contracts at any given moment in time may reveal how employees perceive changes and what issues they value highly. It is a framework around which we can develop strategy as well as gain an insight into other relevant subjects concerning employees, such as expectations of job security, career development, pay, and issues relating to the impact of their work on the quality of their home lives.
