The paradigm of the psychological contract in volunteerism: volunteer firefighter

Abstract

This study, with an exploratory and explanatory character, analyses the applicability of the Psychological Contract to a volunteer context, tries to understand the type of psychological contract established, the factors of violation and breach of the contract and the reasons that lead to the intention to stay in the voluntary practice. By means of a qualitative methodology, the Grounded Theory, 14 volunteer firefighters, all from the same fire department, were interviewed and the data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The study allowed to understand some of the complexity of human resources management for volunteers, and extrinsic and intrinsic motivations for becoming a volunteer were found, as well as hybrid psychological contracts, which include characteristics of the relational and transactional components. It was also verified that the firefighter establishes simultaneously a calculative and relational commitment with the department and this organisational commitment is essential to the intention to stay.