EXPLAINING HOW SURVIVORS RESPOND TO DOWNSIZING - THE ROLES OF TRUST, EMPOWERMENT, JUSTICE, AND WORK REDESIGN

In this article we develop a stress-based framework of survivors' resp onses to downsizing. First, we synthesize prior research findings into a typology of survivor responses delineated by two underlying dimensi ons: constructive/destructive and active/passive. Drawing on Lazarus's theory of stress, we then posit that how survivors appraise the downs izing will shape their responses to it. We argue that trust and justic e influence primary appraisal and facilitate more constructive respons es because they reduce the extent to which organizational downsizing i s evaluated as a threat. Likewise, we argue that empowerment and work redesign influence secondary appraisal and facilitate more active resp onses because they enhance survivors assessments of their capacity to cope with the threat. Finally, we discuss contributions of the framewo rk and implications for research and practice.