Psychological responses to lay-off in contemporary China

B Wang; Ken Greenwood

doi:10.1080/09585192.2014.919950

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Psychological responses to lay-off in contemporary China

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Psychological responses to lay-off in contemporary China

B Wang and Ken Greenwood

International Journal of Human Resource Management, Vol.26(3), pp.361-380

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2014.919950

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Abstract

China

laid-off workers

psychological response

state-owned enterprises (SOEs)

unemployed workers

This paper explores the psychological responses to lay-off in contemporary China during its economic reform period. The paper adopts both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. A total of 287 laid-off workers from state-owned enterprises were surveyed and 26 of them were interviewed in China. The survey data were analysed using statistical methods to detect relationships between variables, and the interview data were processed by means of constructing categories of description and illustrated through the voices of the laid-off workers. This research overturns the conventional wisdom of the three-stage theory, 'shock, distress and fatalism', developed by Western scholars. It demonstrates that the psychological responses of the laid-off workers are highly variable, and culturally and institutionally specific. The implications are both profound and able to underpin a far more constructive and fruitful programme for retraining unemployed workers in China and other developing countries and integrating them into the workforce. © 2014, © 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Details

Title: Psychological responses to lay-off in contemporary China
Authors: B Wang (Author) - RMIT University
Ken Greenwood (Author) - Edith Cowan University
Publication details: International Journal of Human Resource Management, Vol.26(3), pp.361-380
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2015
DOI: 10.1080/09585192.2014.919950
ISSN: 0958-5192
Organisation Unit: School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451345502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Management

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