Organizational Citizenship Behavior of Temporary Knowledge Employees

Abstract

This study examines accounts of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) by temporary knowledge employees. Most studies of OCB are based on the perspective of permanent employees and may not account for the unique perspective of temporary knowledge employees. This study finds that the most prominent themes in temporary knowledge employees' explanations for why they engaged in OCB are their perceived norms of professional behavior for their occupation and an experience of positive regard with and among their co-workers. This is in contrast with the themes of social exchange, organizational identification, and impression management that are currently invoked in explaining OCBs among permanent employees.