UC Santa Barbara

Employment transitions necessitate a degree of uncertainty, which may present a challenge to succeeding and belonging at a new organization. The present research explores whether the perception of a higher degree of organizational structure can facilitate transitioning employees’ occupation self-efficacy and sense of belonging in a new work environment. We focus on military veterans, who face significant challenges during their separation from military service and transition to civilian employment. We conducted four studies with military veteran participants (two of which also included civilian participants): two using simple correlational methods, one using a three-year longitudinal design with transitioning veterans, and one using an experimental methodology with veterans and civilians. Across the studies, we find consistent evidence that when transitioning employees perceive greater structure at their organization, this facilitates increased feelings of occupational self-efficacy which, in turn, promotes greater feelings of belonging at work. Successful employment transitions are facilitated, we suggest, when people perceive greater structure in their environment. The results are discussed in the context of compensatory control theory, and addressing the challenges of transitioning employees, and in particular, transitioning military veterans.