Inter-group relations

Abstract

Individuals’ allegiance to, and identification with, various social groups can have an important influence on their attitudes and behaviour. The notion of employee commitment can over-generalise the nature of such allegiance and hence overlook the fact that you can be committed to your work, to your colleagues, to your department, to your occupation or profession and/or to the company you work for. But these commitments will vary and will often conflict with each other — the most obvious example being the commitment to a trade union or professional association and the commitment to one’s employer.