How do I stand compared to agency workers? Justice perceptions and employees' counterproductive work behaviours

Aims To test the influence of comparative procedural justice on the counterproductive behaviours of permanent nurses and care attendants who work with agency workers, and explore whether the perceived climate of competition between permanent and agency workers alters this relationship. Background Despite steady reliance on agency workers in the health care sector, there is a dearth of research on the reactions of permanent employees who may respond negatively to the presence of this external workforce. Methods Questionnaires were distributed to employees of three long-term care facilities and their supervisors. Hypotheses were tested using moderated mediation analyses on a sample of 232 employee–supervisor dyads. Results Comparative procedural justice was indirectly related to counterproductive behaviours via employees' organization-based self-esteem. This relationship was weaker when perceived climate of competition was high. Conclusion Promoting high levels of comparative procedural justice among permanent employees, rather than status differences with agency employees, should avert behaviours that could harm organizational functioning and therefore patient care. Implications for nursing management We discuss the leadership challenges to support neutral treatment and avoid the development of a competitive climate between permanent and agency workers (e.g., politics based on respect and collaboration, positive leadership).