| This study was conducted to explore responses and reactions of individuals to layoff and subsequent re-employment. Coping mechanisms, levels of self-efficacy, selected individual characteristics and personal histories were studied. Ten study participants completed interviews, the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (Copyright 1988), the Capabilities Assessment Profile (Copyright 2003), and a personal information questionnaire. Two distinct groups emerged from the analysis of data, as responses differed. Those included in Group One had no formal education beyond high school, had not changed jobs or professions within the past 15 years and reported no evidence of non-work related life long learning activities. Further analysis of those within Group One indicated lower levels of self-efficacy and coping skills than those in Group Two. Individuals within Group One demonstrated more confusion associated with layoffs and greater difficulty in successfully finding re-employment. As a result of this research, the Layoff Model of Meaning Making was developed. This model provides a graphical representation of individual and environmental factors that were described by study participants. Its structure depicts both the personal characteristics and the relationships among them that are needed for successful navigation of the layoff to re-employment process. |
