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Reorganizing and Downsizing

How Employees’ Health Is Affected According to Epidemiological Research

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Handbook on Management and Employment Practices

Part of the book series: Handbook Series in Occupational Health Sciences ((HDBSOHS,volume 3))

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Abstract

Whereas there has been extensive research on the health consequences of unemployment, there has been less research on the wider health aspects of downsizing, in particular for those who remain employed in the workplace. During the later years, case-control and prospective epidemiological studies have been published including both groups. They indicate that both the unemployed and those who remain in the workplace (survivors) after downsizing may suffer from depression, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion as well as physiological changes related to exhaustion. Increased prescription of medication for anxiety, depression, and sleeping difficulties has also been described for these groups. The research indicates that downsizing is often poorly organized. With a better planning, many health problems can be prevented.

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Correspondence to Töres Theorell .

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Theorell, T. (2022). Reorganizing and Downsizing. In: Brough, P., Gardiner, E., Daniels, K. (eds) Handbook on Management and Employment Practices. Handbook Series in Occupational Health Sciences, vol 3. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29010-8_7

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