| A possible reason for downsizing's meager success in the workplace is related to the lack of attention paid to layoff survivors' communication patterns and relationships. This investigation examined changes among communication network relationships and associated perceptions and attitudes in a hotel company's corporate headquarters to provide additional insight into layoff survivors' responses to downsizing. Through the use of communication network measurement techniques and survey measurements at three points in time, this investigation examined the impact of structural holes on layoff survivors' perceptions of information deficiency, stress, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment both prior to and following the downsizing effort. As a result of downsizing, employees gained or lost a variety of network contacts. Layoff survivors who experienced increases in structural holes perceived higher levels information deficiency as newly formed gaps in their communication network restricted the flow of information and resources. Increases in information deficiency were related to increases in survivors' levels of stress, which negatively impacted their affect toward their job in the measurement period directly following the downsizing. Static and longitudinal models of survivors' structural hole experiences and attitudinal responses were presented and tested. Results indicated modest support for the static models and revealed differences among subgroups within the sample, while the longitudinal model was not supported. |
