Strategic Human Resource Management and Employees' Well-Being

Strategic human resource management (SHRM) or the so called high-performance work system (HPWS) have undoubtedly revolutionized the work scenario today, providing the competitive edge, higher productivity and profits to organizations which have adopted this system. But, the question worth investigating is whether the SHRM systems are equally benefiting the employees, or, are the employees being unduly taxed by the high work pressure and work-intensification leading to their job-dissatisfaction and poorer health? A growing research efforts focusing on this problem show controversial results, indicating innovative HRM policies as embodying 'mutual gains' for the employers and employees, or constituting more a vehicle for work-intensification and beneficial outcomes for the organizations alone. The present study is an attempt to the effect of HR policies and practices on employees' well-being in terms of job-satisfaction and physical health. The evidence is mixed. Findings support the both positive and negative effects of HR practices on employees' well-being.