Citation:
Clare Kelliher, Emma Parry, Voluntary sector HRM: examining the influence of government, International Journal of Public Sector Management, 2011 Volume 24, Issue 7, Pages 650-661
Abstract:
Purpose - This paper seeks to examine the practice of human resource management
(HRM) in the UK voluntary sector. In recent years many voluntary sector
organisations have experienced a changing context, where they have become
increasingly involved in contracting for the provision of publicly funded
services. This paper examines the suggestion made by a number of commentators
that as a result the government has exercised influence over the way in which
human resources are managed in this sector. Design/methodology/approach - The
paper uses data from the Workplace Employment Relations Survey 2004 (WERS 2004)
to examine HRM practice in the voluntary sector and compares this with the
public and private sectors. Findings - The findings show that most voluntary
sector organisations have adopted performance-oriented HR practices,
communication and involvement schemes, and welfare-oriented practices. This
suggests a departure from the relatively unsophisticated HRM that has
traditionally been found in the voluntary sector and which may be as a result of
the influence of government on HRM standards in the sector. Research
limitations/implications - Future research, which adopts a longitudinal
approach, would allow the impact of government influence on HRM practices in the
voluntary sector to be examined in more depth. Originality/value - This paper
represents a rare examination of HRM practice across a wide range of voluntary
sector organisations and provides insight into the potential influence of
government on HRM in the sector.