Sacked! An Investigation of Young Workers' Dismissal and the Psychological Contract in Queensland Workplaces

Global pressure to increase Australia’s market competitiveness has prompted the government to allow employers more control over the determination of wages and conditions. This change has resulted in concern over increased exploitation of vulnerable cohorts of the labour force, particularly young workers. The circumstances which lead to the breakdown of the employment relationship in young employees and associated violation of the psychological contract have been given little consideration in the literature, despite their growing significance in today’s employment climate. This study uses secondary data obtained from the Young Workers Advisory Service in Queensland, comprising 1259 recorded employee complaints regarding their dismissal from work. Content analysis is supported by statistical methods to explore frequencies, themes, trends and variables associated with the circumstances leading to employee dismissal. The results indicate that at least two thirds of the sample experienced a serious betrayal of trust by the employer, however only one in ten successfully received legal redress. These findings expose exploitation within the youth labour market and suggest that more must be done to protect young people’s rights at work.