This article explores four approaches to the employee-organization relationship from the employer's perspective: quasi-spot-contract, underinvestment, overinvestment, and mutual investment. An empirical study of employees from ten companies in competitive industries found that employees performed better on core tasks, demonstrated more citizenship behavior, and expressed higher levels of affective commitment when working in an overinvestment or mutual investment relationship compared to when working in a quasi-spot-contract or underinvestment relationship. The study controlled for several variables affecting employee performance and attitudes. The results suggest that the mutual investment approach offers the most advantages to employers in terms of favorable employee performance and attitudes, while the underinvestment approach has the most disadvantages. The article also discusses the impact of these approaches on employee performance, attitudes, and co-worker relationships, providing a comprehensive analysis of the employee-organization relationship.This article explores four approaches to the employee-organization relationship from the employer's perspective: quasi-spot-contract, underinvestment, overinvestment, and mutual investment. An empirical study of employees from ten companies in competitive industries found that employees performed better on core tasks, demonstrated more citizenship behavior, and expressed higher levels of affective commitment when working in an overinvestment or mutual investment relationship compared to when working in a quasi-spot-contract or underinvestment relationship. The study controlled for several variables affecting employee performance and attitudes. The results suggest that the mutual investment approach offers the most advantages to employers in terms of favorable employee performance and attitudes, while the underinvestment approach has the most disadvantages. The article also discusses the impact of these approaches on employee performance, attitudes, and co-worker relationships, providing a comprehensive analysis of the employee-organization relationship.