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“Everybody needs everyone”: a case study of workplace learning after a downsize

Sarah M. Miller (Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA)
JungHwan Kim (Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA)
Doo Hun Lim (Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA)

European Journal of Training and Development

ISSN: 2046-9012

Article publication date: 16 October 2019

Issue publication date: 21 April 2020

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore how employees’ emotions after downsizing impact their learning that they partook in after the downsizing event.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological approach was a qualitative case study. Nine employees, considered layoff survivors in a downsized organization, participated in semi-structured interviews. For data analysis, authors performed an initial, focused and axial coding.

Findings

The findings highlight three themes: “resilience,” “loyalty” and “moral support.” These themes show the empathy that layoff survivors experienced and the impact the layoff had on their commitment to the organization, as well as the social learning that occurred after downsizing.

Practical implications

Downsized organizations need to consider the emotions of employees who survive layoffs and how layoffs impact their behavior at work, particularly their learning behavior. Organizations need to understand how to positively impact layoff survivors’ emotions to influence the survivors’ willingness to learn and implement the changes within the organization. Providing outlets for survivors to network within the company, as well as meaningful opportunities, is one of the few ways of addressing employees’ emotions and ensuring they will be encouraged to change with the organization.

Originality/value

Research that explores how emotions resulting from an organizational downsize impact employees’ learning is minimal. Although much of the downsizing research does explore layoff survivors’ experiences after a downsizing, it does not address the emotional factors or the learning experiences. This study seeks to fill this gap.

Keywords

Citation

Miller, S.M., Kim, J. and Lim, D.H. (2020), "“Everybody needs everyone”: a case study of workplace learning after a downsize", European Journal of Training and Development, Vol. 44 No. 2/3, pp. 159-170. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-02-2019-0013

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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