Adjustment Mechanisms of New Workers in Industrial Organisations: Implications for Nigerian Workers

Abstract

This paper adopted qualitative and theoretical method of analysis to describe adjustment mechanisms of new workers in industrial organisations in Nigeria. The purpose was to take a close theoretical analysis of different types and processes of new workers adjustments. The paper highlighted different typologies and processes of adjustments such as personal adjustment, labour–market adjustment, and adjustment to new structures, policies and new behaviours in work organisations. Empirical literature revealed that new workers adjust to work environment, to new labour policies such as pay and performance management, regular hours of work, work pressure, to new organisational structure as well as of collective bargaining outcome among others. The paper highlights reasons why work adjustments occur in organisations to include: Pay status, affiliation, ego, power, emotion and curiosity and these factors motivate new workers to increase commitment. The paper then concludes that practitioners and managers ultimately should seek to design adjustment strategies that take individual newcomer characteristics into consideration and encourage proactive behaviour such as information seeking that help facilitate the development of role clarity, self – efficacy, social acceptance and knowledge of organisational culture.