Employee adjustment during organisational change: Differences between occupational groups in a hospital environment

Abstract

The present study investigated occupational differences in levels of adjustment during organisational change. A diagnostic survey of 744 hospital employees undergoing a large-scale program of change was conducted. Occupational differences in employee adjustment, change appraisal and perceptions of organisational climate were assessed using indicators developed from exploratory interviews and an empirically validated theoretical model of employee adjustment to change (Martin, Jones and Callan, 1999). The results revealed some differences between occupational groups, with one group in particular reporting poorer levels of adjustment. These differences highlight the importance of examining employee perceptions at the sub-group level when implementing change.