Claire Dupont

Human resource management and labour demand dynamics in Belgium

– This paper aims to estimate whether human resource (HR) practices influence labour demand dynamics behaviour., – Groups practices in terms of employees satisfaction and work organisation, financial incentives and individuals career perspectives, and explains how they may influence labour productivity and cost. Considering five HR variables, estimates two specifications of labour demand dynamics, under production constrained by demand or monopolistic competition regimes. Applies the two‐step GMM estimator proposed by Blundell and Bond to a balanced panel of 452 Belgian firms observed during the period 1998‐2002., – In the complete monopolistic competition specification, estimates a positive one lag relation explaining labour demand by average training hours combined with an indicator of well‐being of workers, the fact that they are engaged in long term contracts and stay in firms. Some evidence therefore seems to show that some combined HR practices can improve labour demand., – Provides information on whether HR practices influence labour demand dynamics in a Belgian context.

EFFECTS OF HUMAN RESOURCE PRACTICES ON FAMILY FIRMS SOCIAL PERFORMANCE

The aim of our research is to analyse social performance (through turnover rate) of large family owned business in relation to their human resource practices. We made multiple regressions on a sample of 60 large firms. Our global model, considering large family owned business and non-family owned business, shows that part-time contracts increase turnover significantly, while training reduces it. We observe the same relation when we analyse family owned business specifically where we also note that to belong to the trade sector influences turnover significantly. When we consider non-family owned business on the other hand, then variables like pay, training, firm’s age and services or building sectors tend to affect turnover significantly.