Developing and testing a model of survivor responses to layoffs

A model of survivor responses to layoffs is developed and tested. Perceptions of global process control, perceived fairness of the layoff, and job security are tested as predictors of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and behavioral intentions to withdraw. The empirical assessment of a complete latent variable model with covariance structure analyses supported both the measurement and the structural models. Global process control is shown to be a direct antecedent of perceived fairness of the layoff and job satisfaction. Perceived fairness of the layoff and job security also have direct effects on job satisfaction. Job satisfaction acts as a mediating variable between these variables and organizational commitment. Organizational commitment, in turn, has a direct negative effect on behavioral intentions to withdraw. These findings suggest that witnessing a layoff has significant effects on psychological and behavioral responses of layoff survivors. Direction for future research is discussed.