Changes in survivors' work attitudes among three subsidiaries of a leading multinational company following organizational retrenchment

• Main Author: Juliano, Cheryl Lynn Joyce A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1997
• Subjects: Work > Psychological aspects; Layoff systems; Organizational change; Job satisfaction; Multinational corporations; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/1734
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study aimed to find out the levels of work attitudes of survivors in terms of job satisfaction and organizational commitment prior to retrenchment and at present, and whether work attitudes changed as a result of retrenchment. It also aimed to find out significant differences in the changes in work attitudes found among officers and among non-officers prior to retrenchment and at present. Three subsidiaries of a leading multinational company were chosen as participants of this study because they underwent a retrenchment process from January to June 1996. The ex-post-facto design was used because collection of data happened after the retrenchment process had occurred. The study also utilized the descriptive method of research.A total of 85 respondents -- 33 officers and 52 non-officers -- participated in the study. Data on the work attitudes of survivors were obtained through the use of attitude questionnaires, which were distributed and collected personally by the researcher on appointed dates. Information on the subsidiaries plans for the streamlining process was obtained through the company profile questionnaire filled out by an HRD manager and secondary sources such as records and newsletters of the subsidiaries.The summative index scores and the weighted mean scores for each respondent were computed in order to obtain the levels of the survivors' work attitudes prior to retrenchment and at present. Correlated t-tests at the .05 significance level were obtained in order to find out changes in work attitudes across the two timeframes. To find out if changes in work attitudes were greater for officers or non-officers, the gain scores of both groups were subjected to the independent samples t-tests at the .05 significance level. All computed t-tests were obtained by utilizing the SPSS program.The results of the study showed that the work attitudes of the survivors significantly declined. Prior to retrenchment, the levels of their work attitudes were generally high, but the levels at the present time were generally low. This indicated that retrenchment had a negative effect on the work attitudes of survivors. Aside from this, both officers and non-officers also showed significant decline in their levels of their work attitudes, except in their satisfaction levels toward relationship with co-workers and superiors wherein in significant changes were discovered. Lastly, there were no significant differences in the work attitude changes found between the two groups, indicating that both officers and non-officers were equally affected by retrenchment. This signified the high value placed by survivors towards their jobs which were threatened by retrenchment, and the changes that they had to face after retrenchment, which forced their work attitudes to decline. This conveyed their need for stability in the workplace, whatever position they may occupy in the organization, whether it be officer or non-officer. This also suggests that their work attitudes flowed from this need for stability in the workplace.