A process model for understanding victim responses to worksite/function closure

A review of the downsizing literature suggests that, compared to general downsizing situations, there has been little theoretical work on the collective emotional processes and responses of worksite/function closure victims. A model is described for studying the collective employees' emotional process for grieving the closure, using Kubler-Ross's [Kubler-Ross, E. (1969). On death and dying. Macmillan, New York.] stages of dying. The model also discusses two different types of victim responses during the closure process, and responses after closure. Formal model propositions are given. Boundary conditions of the proposed model and methodological issues are briefly discussed, to help stimulate future testing of this model.