Uncertainty in the Workplace and the Impact on Employee Health during the 2013 US Government Shutdown

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact that uncertainty due to the government shutdown has on employee health and wellbeing. The present study aimed to uncover the impact that uncertainty had on employee health and wellbeing above and beyond traditional workplace stressors such as role overload, role ambiguity, and abusive supervision. Employees’ levels of depression, life satisfaction, and positive and negative affect were investigated. Results indicated that uncertainty due to the government shutdown did not significantly predict negative health outcomes. However, both role ambiguity and abusive supervision served as primary predictors of decreased employee wellbeing, indicating that these traditional stressors still play a critical role in employee health, even when factoring in distal stressors. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.