Healing the Wounds

"The root cause of layoff survivor sickness is a profound shift in the psychological employment contract that binds individual and organization."

"Layoff survivor sickness and the organizational realities that accompany this sickness are a relatively new topic in management writings."

"Many organizations view people as "things" that are but one variable in the production equation."

"We are approaching the era of the just-in-time employee."

"In the confusion of the post-layoff environment, it is easy for managers to underestimate the severity of survivor symptoms, both in those they manage and in themselves."

"The way most of the downsizings were implemented had caused quality and productivity to deteriorate rather than increase."

"Layoff survivors cope with their feelings in ways that are neither personally healthy nor organizationally productive."

"Four levels of intervention are needed to deal with layoff survivor sickness."

"It is impossible for managers to overcommunicate during layoffs."

"Even in the best-handled layoffs, survivors feel violated."

"We need to connect with something bigger than ourselves, with a personal core purpose."

"The shift from the old to the new contract affects all organizational members."

"To survive in this new world, organizations are shrinking, accepting short-term planning horizons, demanding employee flexibility, and becoming nimble and responsive to global changes."

"Seven elements that organizations should include in contracts with employees."

"Going from the yearning for belonging to the necessity for autonomy."