The Influence of Perceived Job Insecurity on the Performance of MSME Employees in Belize: A Mediated-Moderated Framework

Abstract

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The global health crisis has led to a surge in unemployment rates in Belize, increasing job insecurity levels among employees, especially those in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The intention of this study was to assess the prevalence of job insecurity among MSME employees in Belize and investigate how their perception of job insecurity impacts their performance. As previous studies have shown conflicting results, competing hypotheses for the job insecurity-performance relationship were proposed. Additionally, the study also sought to establish the mediating role of the challenge and hindrance stressors and the moderating role of employee resilience in the job insecurity-performance relationship. A quantitative study was conducted, and 406 MSME employees in Belize participated. As per the results, job insecurity has a detrimental influence on employee performance through a hindrance effect. Contrary to the hypothesis, the results did not support the idea that resilience moderates the job insecurity-performance relationship and enhances performance. This study enhances our knowledge regarding the effects of job insecurity on employee performance in the context of MSMEs in Belize. As MSMEs are crucial contributors to the Belizean economy, this study offers significant implications for policymakers and practitioners seeking to address the issue of job insecurity and improve the performance of MSME employees. The findings will inform policy and practice in Belize and serve as a foundation for future research in this field.Keywords: micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), job insecurity, employee performance, employee resilience, challenge and hindrance stressors