Layoffs : Australian executives speak of being disposed of

The findings in this article are from a study conducted in Australia. Like the rest of the world, Australia has seen its economic crisis result in increased numbers of layoffs and climbing unemployment rates. While the global recession is purported to have been triggered by a collapse of the subprime mortgage market in the U.S., resulting in huge losses to financial institutions and credit shortages paralyzing the banking system, such financial outcomes are taking place not only in the U.S. and Europe, but worldwide. In Australia, the unemployment trend has also shown significant rises, from 3.8 percent in July 2008, to 5.7 percent in July 2009 (peaking at 6.2 percent in May and June 2009). So, while Australian unemployment rates may not be as high as those in the U.S., they have increased significantly, and the recession in Australia continues. At a time when layoffs are expected to continue worldwide, there needs to be more consideration directed towards the dignity of workers, regardless of the industry or type of worker, or whether they are laid off in the U.S., Europe, U.K., Australia, or anywhere else. In the face of the continuing economic downturn and resulting job losses, it is time to turn the attention of managers to the personal experience of being "disposed of" from one's place of work, in an effort to improve the process of layoffs in the future. We report here the experiences of executives in Australia who were laid off (made redundant) from their place of work without choice.