โ Scribed by Noer, David M
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
Recently, as Noer notes, organizations from public to private to nonprofit have "embarked on a frenzy of layoffs." In this outstanding study, a major contribution to business literature, the author maintains that these layoffs have eroded the trust between employees and employers and have created a new managerial paradigm: "Organizations that once saw people as assets to be nurtured and developed began to view those same people as costs to be cut." Noer ( Jobkeeping ) cogently addresses the violation of the old employment covenant of secure, paternalistic rules. Further, he notes, while those who are dismissed are usually offered counseling services, those who remain are left to cope with their anxiety and distress and the dismantled corporation, a process Noer terms "layoff survivor sickness." He also suggests how companies should downsize, stressing the importance of compassion, communication and the acknowledgment of codependency, in which employees derive their self-worth from their role in the organization.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Many books have emphasized self-help for the layoff victims of organizational downsizing but do not talk about the feelings of those who were lucky to keep their jobs. Noer, the vice president of a leadership center, takes a new approach to addressing the needs of both the survivors and the organizations. He suggests that while it is good that organizations provide services for the victims, the layoff process should include help for the survivors, who are often expected to increase productivity without any transition. The book is arranged around examples of the old employee-employment contract, survivors' testimonials, and how companies and individuals can change their working relationships for the new employment order. Noer uses a mix of modern psychology and organizational theory, but the ideas appear fresh and are packaged well. Recommended for all business collections.
- Rebecca A. Smith, Harvard Business Sch. Lib.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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