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Sacked! An investigation of young workers' dismissal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2015

Ashlea Kellner ,
Paula McDonald  and
Jennifer Waterhouse
Ashlea Kellner
Affiliation:
Department of Employment Relations and Human Resources, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
Paula McDonald
Affiliation:
School of Management, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Jennifer Waterhouse
Affiliation:
Business School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
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Abstract

Limited academic attention has been afforded to young workers relative to their adult counterparts. This study addresses a phase of the employment relationship for young people that is very infrequently examined – during or around the time when the relationship ends. It examines the relative frequency of different forms of dismissal and the circumstances preceding the dismissals via a content analysis of 1259 cases of employee enquiries to a community advocacy organisation in Australia. Results indicate that dismissal was most commonly associated with bullying, harassment, and taking personal leave. Young men, compared to young women, were disproportionately likely to report allegations of misconduct as preceding dismissal, while females experienced higher rates of sexual harassment and discrimination. The research highlights the types and circumstances of dismissal across a range of employment contexts and reveals the complexities of youth employment relationships which may differ from those of the general workforce.

Keywords

young workersdismissallabour marketgenderdiscriminationharassment
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , March 2011 , pp. 226 - 244
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2011

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