Canadian White-Collar Workers' Views of Their Experience with Downsizing or Job Loss

Abstract

Despite continuing bouts of downsizing in North America, there is relatively little literature on Canadian white-collar workers' experience of this kind of job loss. In the present context “downsizing” refers to nonperformance-based job loss, that is, job loss through restructuring, strategic planning, or other organizational initiatives wherein individuals lose their jobs through no fault of their own. From fall of 1992 and through the winter of 1993, we conducted interviews with 144 mostly white collar displaced workers in and around Calgary, Alberta. Their perceptions of many aspects of the downsizing experience are described. The advice our participants gave to others may be of direct use. Several issues that clearly need research are also noted.