Department

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Dept. of Psychology

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Seasonal shifts, particularly in winter, have been linked to increased job insecurity (JI) and perceived income adequacy (PIA). Rizqita and Mulamukti (2024) found that during the winter months, temperatures drop and business activity and investment significantly decline, increasing job insecurity and turnover intentions. This increased insecurity causes stress that negatively impacts these individuals’ work attitudes and behaviors.Wealth-induced resources play an important role in managing eco-stress, causing individuals with lower incomes to suffer psychosocially, leading to lower levels of perceived income adequacy in these extreme temperatures. (Vliert & Joshanloo 2024). Based on prior research highlighting the effects of temperature extremes on workplace outcomes, we pose that: H1: Individuals who reside in zip codes that experience temperature extremes will report higher levels of job insecurity. H2: Individuals who reside in zip codes that experience temperature extremes will report lower levels of perceived income adequacy. A sample of 660 working individuals in the United States was obtained from Prolific. All participants were over 18 and worked at least 30 hours per week.To measure perceived income adequacy (PIA), a three-item measure was adapted from Sears (2008). For job insecurity, three items were adapted from the Survey section of the Job Diagnostic Survey (Olham et al., 1986). Temperature extremes were measured using participant zip codes. Weather and climate data were obtained from a City Report database based on participant zip codes. Our analysis revealed that higher temperatures are significantly associated with more job insecurity. The January low was negatively associated with JI (-0.012, p < 0.01). Additionally, the July high was negatively associated with PIA (-0.024, p < 0.05). As temperatures get warmer, individuals may be less worried about their economic well-being. These findings accept H1 that individuals in areas experiencing temperature extremes will report lower levels of perceived income adequacy. Given the findings of our study, our research highlights the urgent need for policymakers to consider the far-reaching impacts of climate change on the workforce. By addressing these complex obstacles, policymakers can play a pivotal role in creating a more adaptable workforce to climate shifts, ensuring economic resilience and social well-being in the face of environmental challenges.

Date

11-9-2024

Subject

Industrial and organizational psychology

Document Type

posters

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Share

COinS
 

Weathering the workplace: temperature extremes and their effects on job insecurity and perceived income adequacy

Seasonal shifts, particularly in winter, have been linked to increased job insecurity (JI) and perceived income adequacy (PIA). Rizqita and Mulamukti (2024) found that during the winter months, temperatures drop and business activity and investment significantly decline, increasing job insecurity and turnover intentions. This increased insecurity causes stress that negatively impacts these individuals’ work attitudes and behaviors.Wealth-induced resources play an important role in managing eco-stress, causing individuals with lower incomes to suffer psychosocially, leading to lower levels of perceived income adequacy in these extreme temperatures. (Vliert & Joshanloo 2024). Based on prior research highlighting the effects of temperature extremes on workplace outcomes, we pose that: H1: Individuals who reside in zip codes that experience temperature extremes will report higher levels of job insecurity. H2: Individuals who reside in zip codes that experience temperature extremes will report lower levels of perceived income adequacy. A sample of 660 working individuals in the United States was obtained from Prolific. All participants were over 18 and worked at least 30 hours per week.To measure perceived income adequacy (PIA), a three-item measure was adapted from Sears (2008). For job insecurity, three items were adapted from the Survey section of the Job Diagnostic Survey (Olham et al., 1986). Temperature extremes were measured using participant zip codes. Weather and climate data were obtained from a City Report database based on participant zip codes. Our analysis revealed that higher temperatures are significantly associated with more job insecurity. The January low was negatively associated with JI (-0.012, p < 0.01). Additionally, the July high was negatively associated with PIA (-0.024, p < 0.05). As temperatures get warmer, individuals may be less worried about their economic well-being. These findings accept H1 that individuals in areas experiencing temperature extremes will report lower levels of perceived income adequacy. Given the findings of our study, our research highlights the urgent need for policymakers to consider the far-reaching impacts of climate change on the workforce. By addressing these complex obstacles, policymakers can play a pivotal role in creating a more adaptable workforce to climate shifts, ensuring economic resilience and social well-being in the face of environmental challenges.