Towards enhancing survivors' organizational and personal reactions to layoffs: A rejoinder to daniels

Abstract

In this issue Daniels critiques a report which appeared in the Strategic Management Journal's Special Issue on Corporate Restructuring. The report described two studies which delineated several determinants of the reactions of layoff survivors (Brockner et al., 1993). Daniels interpreted Brockner et al. to be saying that managers in downsizing organizations should implement layoffs in ways that maximize survivors' organizationally-relevant reactions. even if doing so imposes personal costs on the survivors. Unfortunately, Daniels failed to perceive our intended message: that layoffs (and other forms of restructuring) should be implemented in ways that optimize outcomes for both the organization and its people.