Those who stay: Job Insecurity, Respectful Engagement and Openness to Change following a Downsizing : The moderating effect of Respectful Engagement on the relationship between Job Insecurity and Openness to Change

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between job insecurity, openness to change and respectful engagement among layoff survivors. We propose that job insecurity, measured by threat to job features and powerlessness, negatively affect layoff survivors’ openness to change and that respectful engagement will positively moderate these relationships. In an attempt to test our model, we use hierarchical regression analysis on a sample consisting of employees from the Norwegian labor market. The results show that threat to job features negatively affect layoff survivors’ openness to change, and further indicate that respectful engagement is an important aspect to acknowledge as it positively moderates the relationship. However, the results also reveal that powerlessness does not have a significant negative correlation to openness to change. In addition, the effect of respectful engagement is not significantly positively moderating this relationship. Implications for theory and practice, limitation and directions for future research are also discussed. Keywords: change, downsizing, job insecurity, job features, powerlessness, high quality connection, respectful engagement