1) Job loss in the automobile manufacturing industry due to economic downturn has affected workers, their families, and local communities. It has influenced factors like economic development, lifestyle, and family relationships.
2) Approximately 5 million jobs have been lost due to the recession since 2007. Unemployment is expected to rise to 10% in 2009 due to downsizing. States like Michigan, Ohio, and Kansas that rely on automobile manufacturing have been hit hard.
3) The study will examine how job loss impacts the economic status and family relationships of automobile workers, and develop data to understand the effects of downsizing on workers and their families.
Perfectessay.net essay sample #2 chicago styleDavid Smith
Cyndia Zwahlen writes that job cuts may continue into 2010, as both mid-sized and large firms shed more employees due to the ongoing effects of the recession. While smaller organizations have been able to avoid major job cuts so far, unemployment is expected to rise further in the coming year. The recession has also impacted state governments, with California borrowing $2 billion to pay back reimbursements owed to small businesses. Unless steps are taken to stimulate economic growth, high unemployment rates may persist into 2010 and beyond.
The document discusses three ways to improve the declining state of manufacturing in the United States: 1) Restructuring corporate tax policies to incentivize manufacturers to stay in the U.S. by eliminating tax deferrals and implementing an alternative minimum tax, 2) Increasing funding for programs that support small and medium manufacturers through initiatives like the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and 3) Expanding worker training programs through apprenticeships and tax credits for employer training to develop skilled workers for manufacturing jobs. The decline of American manufacturing will continue without changes to policies that have encouraged offshoring of production.
Globalization and the Electronics IndustryOdie Anderson
Globalization has a significant influence on the electronics industry. Companies that leverage the opportunities of globalization, such as outsourcing production to lower costs countries, will thrive, while those that do not will struggle and may fail. Both businesses and governments must develop strategies to take advantage of globalization while mitigating its negative effects, such as job losses in developed countries. How organizations address the challenges and opportunities of globalization will be important for their long-term success in an increasingly globalized world.
A biased "report" issued from a group of anti-drillers flying under the banner of the Multi-State Shale Research Collaboration. The report supposedly proves the Marcellus and Utica Shale haven't created all that many jobs after all. In other words, this is a big, bold lie to try to convince people the enormous benefits from shale drilling in the northeast--which has single-handedly saved the northeast from the worst of the Obama depression--didn't really happen! Pay no attention to all those new jobs--shale didn't really create them! Right.
Cody I. Smith: Gender Disparities in the Peripheral and Core Sectors of the ...Cody Smith
This paper examines and discusses labor market inequalities and disparities utilizing the theoretical framework of the Dual Labor Market approach in order to frame gender inequalities found in social welfare and occupational status of peripheral-sector service workers.
The rapid growth of the US financial sector has driven policy debate on whether it is socially desirable. I propose a heterogeneous agent model with asymmetric information and matching frictions that produces a tradeoff between finance and entrepreneurship. By becoming bankers, talented individuals efficiently match investors with entrepreneurs, but do not internalize the negative effect on the pool of talented entrepreneurs. Thus, the financial sector is inefficiently large in equilibrium, and this inefficiency increases with wealth inequality. The model explains the simultaneous growth of wealth inequality and finance in the US, and why more unequal countries have larger financial sectors.
by Kirill Shakhnov, EUI †
JOB MARKET PAPER
First version: January 2015
This version: November 2014
Read more: https://www.hhs.se/site
Succession process among africa owned business europe 1John Johari
This document discusses family businesses and succession problems. It begins by establishing that family businesses make up a significant portion (70-80%) of businesses in Europe and employ 40-50% of the workforce. One of the major problems family businesses face is transferring ownership and management to the next generation, and only 30% of businesses survive to the second generation due to unsolved succession issues. The document then provides context on family businesses in the EU and former socialist countries like Slovenia, where they have emerged as an important part of the economy since the transition in the 1990s. It establishes that succession planning is a crucial issue for family businesses that requires supportive infrastructure and policies.
Hrm 603 Comparative study between Fiji and AustraliaRedchick
This document provides an overview of employment relations systems in Australia and Fiji. It discusses:
1) The development and evolution of employment relations in Australia, noting its progression from emerging from law to an explicit economic focus to the influence of psychology. Significant legislative changes in Australia have decentralized the system since the 1990s.
2) The development of employment relations in Fiji, which was historically based in agriculture and mirrored models from the UK, New Zealand, Australia. Fiji enacted dispute resolution laws and recently introduced the Employment Relations Promulgation in 2007.
3) A comparison of the two systems, noting Fiji has more developed institutions but Australia has stronger social protections. Both countries have moved from centralized to
Perfectessay.net essay sample #2 chicago styleDavid Smith
Cyndia Zwahlen writes that job cuts may continue into 2010, as both mid-sized and large firms shed more employees due to the ongoing effects of the recession. While smaller organizations have been able to avoid major job cuts so far, unemployment is expected to rise further in the coming year. The recession has also impacted state governments, with California borrowing $2 billion to pay back reimbursements owed to small businesses. Unless steps are taken to stimulate economic growth, high unemployment rates may persist into 2010 and beyond.
The document discusses three ways to improve the declining state of manufacturing in the United States: 1) Restructuring corporate tax policies to incentivize manufacturers to stay in the U.S. by eliminating tax deferrals and implementing an alternative minimum tax, 2) Increasing funding for programs that support small and medium manufacturers through initiatives like the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and 3) Expanding worker training programs through apprenticeships and tax credits for employer training to develop skilled workers for manufacturing jobs. The decline of American manufacturing will continue without changes to policies that have encouraged offshoring of production.
Globalization and the Electronics IndustryOdie Anderson
Globalization has a significant influence on the electronics industry. Companies that leverage the opportunities of globalization, such as outsourcing production to lower costs countries, will thrive, while those that do not will struggle and may fail. Both businesses and governments must develop strategies to take advantage of globalization while mitigating its negative effects, such as job losses in developed countries. How organizations address the challenges and opportunities of globalization will be important for their long-term success in an increasingly globalized world.
A biased "report" issued from a group of anti-drillers flying under the banner of the Multi-State Shale Research Collaboration. The report supposedly proves the Marcellus and Utica Shale haven't created all that many jobs after all. In other words, this is a big, bold lie to try to convince people the enormous benefits from shale drilling in the northeast--which has single-handedly saved the northeast from the worst of the Obama depression--didn't really happen! Pay no attention to all those new jobs--shale didn't really create them! Right.
Cody I. Smith: Gender Disparities in the Peripheral and Core Sectors of the ...Cody Smith
This paper examines and discusses labor market inequalities and disparities utilizing the theoretical framework of the Dual Labor Market approach in order to frame gender inequalities found in social welfare and occupational status of peripheral-sector service workers.
The rapid growth of the US financial sector has driven policy debate on whether it is socially desirable. I propose a heterogeneous agent model with asymmetric information and matching frictions that produces a tradeoff between finance and entrepreneurship. By becoming bankers, talented individuals efficiently match investors with entrepreneurs, but do not internalize the negative effect on the pool of talented entrepreneurs. Thus, the financial sector is inefficiently large in equilibrium, and this inefficiency increases with wealth inequality. The model explains the simultaneous growth of wealth inequality and finance in the US, and why more unequal countries have larger financial sectors.
by Kirill Shakhnov, EUI †
JOB MARKET PAPER
First version: January 2015
This version: November 2014
Read more: https://www.hhs.se/site
Succession process among africa owned business europe 1John Johari
This document discusses family businesses and succession problems. It begins by establishing that family businesses make up a significant portion (70-80%) of businesses in Europe and employ 40-50% of the workforce. One of the major problems family businesses face is transferring ownership and management to the next generation, and only 30% of businesses survive to the second generation due to unsolved succession issues. The document then provides context on family businesses in the EU and former socialist countries like Slovenia, where they have emerged as an important part of the economy since the transition in the 1990s. It establishes that succession planning is a crucial issue for family businesses that requires supportive infrastructure and policies.
Hrm 603 Comparative study between Fiji and AustraliaRedchick
This document provides an overview of employment relations systems in Australia and Fiji. It discusses:
1) The development and evolution of employment relations in Australia, noting its progression from emerging from law to an explicit economic focus to the influence of psychology. Significant legislative changes in Australia have decentralized the system since the 1990s.
2) The development of employment relations in Fiji, which was historically based in agriculture and mirrored models from the UK, New Zealand, Australia. Fiji enacted dispute resolution laws and recently introduced the Employment Relations Promulgation in 2007.
3) A comparison of the two systems, noting Fiji has more developed institutions but Australia has stronger social protections. Both countries have moved from centralized to
This document provides an overview of the employment relations systems of Great Britain, the United States, and Australia. It discusses the key features and processes of each country's systems.
The key features of Britain's system include the influence of conservative governments on weakening trade unions since 1970, a decline in collective bargaining and shift to lower bargaining levels, and the increasing influence of human resource management policies and European Union law.
The US system has a three-tier structure of bargaining at the economy, sectoral, and company levels. Local unions deal with daily interactions and national unions focus on legislation and politics. Pressure to improve competitiveness has led US firms to experiment with both confrontational and collaborative employee relations strategies.
Australia
2013 - Charting international labor comparisonsRichard Han
This document from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compares key economic measures such as GDP,
unemployment rates, labor costs, and inflation rates across various countries. It finds that while unemployment rates
recovered in most countries between 2010 and 2011, the U.S. unemployment rate in 2011 was about double what it
was in the late 1990s. The share of populations employed in agriculture dropped significantly in all countries except
the Netherlands, while employment in services increased in all countries to around 40% or more. Labor force
participation rates were higher for men than women in all countries, with the largest gaps found in Turkey, Mexico,
and South Korea.
BUS203---term ppr--unemployement and its consequences Samiya Yesmin
This paper is a deliberation of the six articles, regarding unemployment and its consequences, provided from “The Economist” Sept. 10th 2011.
For. Professor Dr. Akbar Ali Khan's class
witte - the impacts of the great recession in florida finalTeresa Witte
The document discusses the impacts of the Great Recession in Florida from 2008-2009. It uses psychology and economics perspectives to examine how the recession affected Floridians through housing issues and unemployment. Specifically, it explores how perceptions of work and unemployment changed as people struggled financially. The recession had widespread negative consequences for many Floridians as the housing bubble burst and jobs were lost. Unemployment rates increased substantially and remained high for several years as the economy recovered slowly. Minority groups were disproportionately impacted with higher unemployment levels.
Top salaries in the Ontario public sector have increased substantially in real terms since 1996, similar to increases in top salaries across the Ontario economy. With the exception of school boards, top public sector salaries rose at approximately the same rate as overall top salaries in Ontario. The increases in public sector salaries were much smoother over time compared to the private sector, suggesting some insulation from private labor market forces in the short-run. Disclosure of public sector salaries does not appear to have restrained growth in top salaries. Reduced top income tax rates may have improved bargaining positions for high-earning employees and contributed to rising incomes.
Columbus MSA employment was up 8,200 (0.8 percent) from March to June, ahead of Ohio’s increase of 0.4 percent and the U.S. increase of 0.6 percent, according to the Q2 economic update report produced by Columbus 2020. Going into the second half of the year, unemployment in the Columbus Region continued to decline at 4.6 percent, compared to June state and national rates of 5.5 and 6.1, respectively.
The document discusses whether globalization is the primary cause of rising income inequality in developed countries. It presents several perspectives on this issue. The Heckscher-Ohlin model and evidence from scholars like Wood support the view that globalization increases inequality, but others like Krugman and the OECD argue technological progress is a more important factor. The IMF finds that both globalization and technology significantly contribute to rising inequality, and it is difficult to say which is the primary cause.
Futuring Trends and Its Implications on the Financial IndustryMatthew Blum
In the next 15-20 years, the world is going to be a much different place. Through this assignment, my team and I developed a STEEP analysis where we predicted and forecasted various trends and how that would affect the financial markets.
This document analyzes the relationship between trade openness and income inequality in Africa using data from 38 African countries from 1980 to 2018. It reviews previous literature that has found mixed results on the impact of trade openness on inequality. The literature identifies factors like economic conditions, social factors, and institutions that influence inequality. The document aims to examine the effects of five dimensions of trade openness on income inequality in Africa, using multiple indices of trade openness. Preliminary results from the analysis show that measures of domestic and international trade are associated with higher income inequality. The study contributes new evidence on this topic in Africa.
Thinking about developing business leadership for the post covid worldYing wei (Joe) Chou
The document discusses the need to develop business leadership skills for the post-COVID world. It describes a model developed at Sacred Heart University's Center for Nonprofits that may provide students with the skills, attitudes and values required for successful social entrepreneurship. Over 15 years, 925 MBA students have completed 260 consulting projects for 125 nonprofit clients, totaling 65,000 volunteer hours and $60,000 in consulting services to help nonprofits. The model emphasizes developing students' "knowing," "doing," and "being" to prepare them for leadership in a world that demands both business acumen and social purpose.
This document analyzes drivers of inequality in labor income and policies that can reduce it. Technological change and globalization contribute to wider income dispersion among full-time workers, though unions and employment protections can moderate these effects. Higher education attainment is generally associated with narrower income distribution. Temporary contracts, gender gaps, and immigrant underperformance also impact inequality. Policy options like more equitable education, moderate job protections, higher minimum wages, and stronger unions can help compress labor income differences across countries.
This document analyzes the relationship between regional industry clusters and entrepreneurship. It hypothesizes that strong clusters positively impact entrepreneurship by lowering business startup costs, enhancing innovation opportunities, and providing access to inputs and markets. The study uses Census Bureau and cluster mapping data to examine how cluster strength relates to the growth of new businesses and employment in startups, while controlling for convergence effects. Preliminary results suggest clusters facilitate higher growth in entrepreneurial activity and medium-term survival of startups. The presence of clusters may also influence where existing multi-location firms open new establishments.
Final rev copy of comparison between industrial relations between usa and can...Alex Gich
This document compares labor relations between the United States and Canada. While the labor movements in the two countries have common origins and objectives, there are some key differences. In Canada, almost half of union members work in the public sector, as public sector workers have stronger collective bargaining rights than in the US. Canadian unions have also had more success in organizing unorganized workers, particularly through addressing women's issues. However, the differences in outcomes between the two countries' labor movements seem to be more a result of differing union strategies and bargaining approaches rather than inherent differences between US and Canadian workers.
The document discusses offshoring of US jobs and its positive and negative impacts. Offshoring refers to companies sending work to other nations to take advantage of lower costs. It benefits companies through reduced wages and costs, access to skills and markets, and increased productivity. However, it negatively impacts the US through job losses, downward pressure on wages, and tax avoidance as some companies move profits overseas. While offshoring provides cost savings, the government is more concerned about its effects on unemployment and lost tax revenue.
The literature shows little evidence on the effects of the business model upon the volatility of banks in developing and fast growing economies. Hence, this study examines the effects of busi-ness model choice on bank’s stability in ASEAN countries. Using GMM and other robust econo-metric methods on the sample of 99 joint stock commercial banks, we find significant and nega-tive impacts of diversification model in which bank shifts toward non – interest and fee – based activities. We also find that the impacts are different between two groups of countries. For Vi-etnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, the diversification entails negative impacts on the stability while demonstrating positive impacts for Thailand and Malaysia. Upon the findings, we draw policy implications for a more sustainable development in ASEAN banking business.
This study aims to investigate the relationship between ownership structure and firm growth in the
context of an emerging economy by employing a sample of more than 2,000 firm-year observations of listed
companies in the period 2013–2017.
Homeopathy is a holistic therapy based on the principle of "like treats like", using highly diluted substances to trigger the body's natural healing response. It was developed in the late 18th century by Samuel Hahnemann based on observations that substances can produce symptoms similar to illnesses. While some evidence and anecdotes support its effectiveness, it remains controversial due to inconsistent results in clinical trials. Proponents argue that more research is still needed to fully understand its mechanisms of action and effects. Homeopathic treatment involves an in-depth case-taking process to determine the most suitable individualized remedy.
This document contains a list of body parts in English including head, hair, face, nose, ear, eye, mouth, teeth, neck, hand, finger, arm, elbow, knee, shoulder, back, foot, toe, and leg.
The document provides recommendations for organizing and presenting a dissertation defense presentation. It suggests preparing a 30-45 minute PowerPoint presentation that focuses on the results and interpretation, using key words from the slides as talking points. Presenters should speak confidently through the presentation without reading directly from slides, invite questions at the end, and arrange to have the defense recorded for documentation and future publications.
The Carnival of Tlaxcala is one of the most culturally significant expressions in the Mexican state of Tlaxcala, characterized by indigenous dances from the Nahua origin. The large population of the state organizes this festival according to the uses and customs of each region. The carnival was introduced in the 17th century by the Duke of San Roman, the governor at the time. The dances and music of the carnival were created by the indigenous Tlaxcalans through the assimilation of dances and music from Spain between the 16th and 19th centuries, which have since been modified and adapted while maintaining their original character.
This document provides an overview of the employment relations systems of Great Britain, the United States, and Australia. It discusses the key features and processes of each country's systems.
The key features of Britain's system include the influence of conservative governments on weakening trade unions since 1970, a decline in collective bargaining and shift to lower bargaining levels, and the increasing influence of human resource management policies and European Union law.
The US system has a three-tier structure of bargaining at the economy, sectoral, and company levels. Local unions deal with daily interactions and national unions focus on legislation and politics. Pressure to improve competitiveness has led US firms to experiment with both confrontational and collaborative employee relations strategies.
Australia
2013 - Charting international labor comparisonsRichard Han
This document from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compares key economic measures such as GDP,
unemployment rates, labor costs, and inflation rates across various countries. It finds that while unemployment rates
recovered in most countries between 2010 and 2011, the U.S. unemployment rate in 2011 was about double what it
was in the late 1990s. The share of populations employed in agriculture dropped significantly in all countries except
the Netherlands, while employment in services increased in all countries to around 40% or more. Labor force
participation rates were higher for men than women in all countries, with the largest gaps found in Turkey, Mexico,
and South Korea.
BUS203---term ppr--unemployement and its consequences Samiya Yesmin
This paper is a deliberation of the six articles, regarding unemployment and its consequences, provided from “The Economist” Sept. 10th 2011.
For. Professor Dr. Akbar Ali Khan's class
witte - the impacts of the great recession in florida finalTeresa Witte
The document discusses the impacts of the Great Recession in Florida from 2008-2009. It uses psychology and economics perspectives to examine how the recession affected Floridians through housing issues and unemployment. Specifically, it explores how perceptions of work and unemployment changed as people struggled financially. The recession had widespread negative consequences for many Floridians as the housing bubble burst and jobs were lost. Unemployment rates increased substantially and remained high for several years as the economy recovered slowly. Minority groups were disproportionately impacted with higher unemployment levels.
Top salaries in the Ontario public sector have increased substantially in real terms since 1996, similar to increases in top salaries across the Ontario economy. With the exception of school boards, top public sector salaries rose at approximately the same rate as overall top salaries in Ontario. The increases in public sector salaries were much smoother over time compared to the private sector, suggesting some insulation from private labor market forces in the short-run. Disclosure of public sector salaries does not appear to have restrained growth in top salaries. Reduced top income tax rates may have improved bargaining positions for high-earning employees and contributed to rising incomes.
Columbus MSA employment was up 8,200 (0.8 percent) from March to June, ahead of Ohio’s increase of 0.4 percent and the U.S. increase of 0.6 percent, according to the Q2 economic update report produced by Columbus 2020. Going into the second half of the year, unemployment in the Columbus Region continued to decline at 4.6 percent, compared to June state and national rates of 5.5 and 6.1, respectively.
The document discusses whether globalization is the primary cause of rising income inequality in developed countries. It presents several perspectives on this issue. The Heckscher-Ohlin model and evidence from scholars like Wood support the view that globalization increases inequality, but others like Krugman and the OECD argue technological progress is a more important factor. The IMF finds that both globalization and technology significantly contribute to rising inequality, and it is difficult to say which is the primary cause.
Futuring Trends and Its Implications on the Financial IndustryMatthew Blum
In the next 15-20 years, the world is going to be a much different place. Through this assignment, my team and I developed a STEEP analysis where we predicted and forecasted various trends and how that would affect the financial markets.
This document analyzes the relationship between trade openness and income inequality in Africa using data from 38 African countries from 1980 to 2018. It reviews previous literature that has found mixed results on the impact of trade openness on inequality. The literature identifies factors like economic conditions, social factors, and institutions that influence inequality. The document aims to examine the effects of five dimensions of trade openness on income inequality in Africa, using multiple indices of trade openness. Preliminary results from the analysis show that measures of domestic and international trade are associated with higher income inequality. The study contributes new evidence on this topic in Africa.
Thinking about developing business leadership for the post covid worldYing wei (Joe) Chou
The document discusses the need to develop business leadership skills for the post-COVID world. It describes a model developed at Sacred Heart University's Center for Nonprofits that may provide students with the skills, attitudes and values required for successful social entrepreneurship. Over 15 years, 925 MBA students have completed 260 consulting projects for 125 nonprofit clients, totaling 65,000 volunteer hours and $60,000 in consulting services to help nonprofits. The model emphasizes developing students' "knowing," "doing," and "being" to prepare them for leadership in a world that demands both business acumen and social purpose.
This document analyzes drivers of inequality in labor income and policies that can reduce it. Technological change and globalization contribute to wider income dispersion among full-time workers, though unions and employment protections can moderate these effects. Higher education attainment is generally associated with narrower income distribution. Temporary contracts, gender gaps, and immigrant underperformance also impact inequality. Policy options like more equitable education, moderate job protections, higher minimum wages, and stronger unions can help compress labor income differences across countries.
This document analyzes the relationship between regional industry clusters and entrepreneurship. It hypothesizes that strong clusters positively impact entrepreneurship by lowering business startup costs, enhancing innovation opportunities, and providing access to inputs and markets. The study uses Census Bureau and cluster mapping data to examine how cluster strength relates to the growth of new businesses and employment in startups, while controlling for convergence effects. Preliminary results suggest clusters facilitate higher growth in entrepreneurial activity and medium-term survival of startups. The presence of clusters may also influence where existing multi-location firms open new establishments.
Final rev copy of comparison between industrial relations between usa and can...Alex Gich
This document compares labor relations between the United States and Canada. While the labor movements in the two countries have common origins and objectives, there are some key differences. In Canada, almost half of union members work in the public sector, as public sector workers have stronger collective bargaining rights than in the US. Canadian unions have also had more success in organizing unorganized workers, particularly through addressing women's issues. However, the differences in outcomes between the two countries' labor movements seem to be more a result of differing union strategies and bargaining approaches rather than inherent differences between US and Canadian workers.
The document discusses offshoring of US jobs and its positive and negative impacts. Offshoring refers to companies sending work to other nations to take advantage of lower costs. It benefits companies through reduced wages and costs, access to skills and markets, and increased productivity. However, it negatively impacts the US through job losses, downward pressure on wages, and tax avoidance as some companies move profits overseas. While offshoring provides cost savings, the government is more concerned about its effects on unemployment and lost tax revenue.
The literature shows little evidence on the effects of the business model upon the volatility of banks in developing and fast growing economies. Hence, this study examines the effects of busi-ness model choice on bank’s stability in ASEAN countries. Using GMM and other robust econo-metric methods on the sample of 99 joint stock commercial banks, we find significant and nega-tive impacts of diversification model in which bank shifts toward non – interest and fee – based activities. We also find that the impacts are different between two groups of countries. For Vi-etnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, the diversification entails negative impacts on the stability while demonstrating positive impacts for Thailand and Malaysia. Upon the findings, we draw policy implications for a more sustainable development in ASEAN banking business.
This study aims to investigate the relationship between ownership structure and firm growth in the
context of an emerging economy by employing a sample of more than 2,000 firm-year observations of listed
companies in the period 2013–2017.
Homeopathy is a holistic therapy based on the principle of "like treats like", using highly diluted substances to trigger the body's natural healing response. It was developed in the late 18th century by Samuel Hahnemann based on observations that substances can produce symptoms similar to illnesses. While some evidence and anecdotes support its effectiveness, it remains controversial due to inconsistent results in clinical trials. Proponents argue that more research is still needed to fully understand its mechanisms of action and effects. Homeopathic treatment involves an in-depth case-taking process to determine the most suitable individualized remedy.
This document contains a list of body parts in English including head, hair, face, nose, ear, eye, mouth, teeth, neck, hand, finger, arm, elbow, knee, shoulder, back, foot, toe, and leg.
The document provides recommendations for organizing and presenting a dissertation defense presentation. It suggests preparing a 30-45 minute PowerPoint presentation that focuses on the results and interpretation, using key words from the slides as talking points. Presenters should speak confidently through the presentation without reading directly from slides, invite questions at the end, and arrange to have the defense recorded for documentation and future publications.
The Carnival of Tlaxcala is one of the most culturally significant expressions in the Mexican state of Tlaxcala, characterized by indigenous dances from the Nahua origin. The large population of the state organizes this festival according to the uses and customs of each region. The carnival was introduced in the 17th century by the Duke of San Roman, the governor at the time. The dances and music of the carnival were created by the indigenous Tlaxcalans through the assimilation of dances and music from Spain between the 16th and 19th centuries, which have since been modified and adapted while maintaining their original character.
This email message thanks Jon and is signed by Markus Peter Ed Amy Hannes Waseem Widagdo Simon Toby Little Jon Florian Kate, suggesting it is a group message thanking Jon for something.
This document lists different parts of the human body including head, hair, face, nose, ear, eye, mouth, teeth, neck, hand, finger, arm, elbow, knee, shoulder, back, foot, toe, and leg.
This document contains a list of body parts in English including head, hair, face, nose, ear, eye, mouth, teeth, neck, hand, finger, arm, elbow, knee, shoulder, back, foot, toe, and leg.
- Mumbai is made up of seven original islands that were connected over time through land reclamation projects to form present-day Mumbai. The islands were inhabited by communities like the Koli fishermen and salt-making Agris.
- Over centuries, Mumbai saw rule by various dynasties and foreign powers that influenced its development. It grew into a major city under the British in the 19th century.
- Mumbai played a key role in India's independence movement. The Quit India movement was launched from Mumbai in 1942 and the 1946 navy mutiny influenced Britain to grant independence.
Homeopathy is a holistic therapy based on the principle of "like treats like" where ultradiluted substances that can cause symptoms are given to trigger the body's natural healing response. The causes of ill health according to homeopathy can include family tendencies, reactions to stress, injuries, lingering infections, and medication side effects. Remedies made from minerals, plants, and animals are selected based on an in-depth case history to match the individual's unique symptoms and constitution. Improvement is seen as sleep, sensitivities, energy, and essential functions improve and niggly symptoms disappear.
Trends In Human Resources Management (7) 7 8 2010atkinr1
The document discusses several trends and challenges facing human resources management in 2010, including an unprecedented upheaval in the financial sector leading to high unemployment. Key trends include the rise of Millennials in the workforce who expect frequent job changes and value work-life balance, globalization and the emergence of China and India as economic competitors, and an aging population straining labor supply. Challenges involve preparing for coming labor shortages, rising health insurance costs, and ensuring adequate retirement benefits and income for older workers choosing to remain employed past normal retirement age.
Trends In Human Resources Management (7) 7 8 2010atkinr1
The document discusses several key challenges facing human resource management in 2010, including an aging workforce, talent shortages, rising healthcare costs, and changing employee expectations. It notes that the recession has exacerbated issues like high unemployment, skills mismatches, and increased pressure on compensation and benefits. Effective HR will need to understand workforce changes, ensure succession planning, and focus on recruitment, performance management, and rebuilding employee confidence as the economy recovers.
Trends In Human Resources Management (7) 7 8 2010atkinr1
The document discusses several key challenges facing human resource management in 2010, including an aging workforce, talent shortages, rising healthcare costs, and changing employee expectations. It notes that the recession has significantly impacted the labor market and that identifying and recruiting top talent will be a fundamental challenge for employers going forward. The role of HR is to understand workforce changes, ensure effective succession planning, oversee recruiting efforts, and adapt performance management to the evolving needs of companies and employees.
Surname 1
Surname 13
Students Name
Institutional Affiliation
Date
Fixing Youth Unemployment
The Bureau Labor of Statistics (BLS) produces a monthly report concerning unemployment, and it indicates the state and strength of the economy. In October this year, the unemployment rate increased to 3.6% from 3.5% in the previous month (Tradingeconomics.com para 1). America has one of the most prolonged economic recoveries in its history, and despite the continual effort by the government to create jobs, full employment levels have not been reached. Unemployment has adverse consequences on the overall economy, and there is a loss of significant consumer spending. When unemployment levels rise, it can be financially destructive to an economy. Over two million youths are unemployed, and most have given up having permanent employment (Bls.gov para 8-9). Failure to have a stable job in early adulthood can have a significant impact on the lives of individuals. Young people complete college, begin searching for employment, and if they cannot find, they ultimately give up on being employed. Constant rejection and the state of the economy contributes to many unemployed youths in a country. It is, therefore, important for an economy to analyze the root causes of unemployment and fix the problem.
Understanding Youth Unemployment and its Causes
Unemployed people are those who do not have a job, have actively searched for work in the past four weeks, and are currently available for employment (Amadeo, para 1). BLS uses household surveys known as current population surveys to measure unemployment. It is a practice that has been conducted since 1940 when the government was responding to the Great Depression. The survey results help to understand the unemployment rates for different people in society like youths and adults. The unemployment rate among youths refers to the number of unemployed youths between the ages of 15-24 years when it is expressed as a percentage of the youth labor force. Figure 1 shows the fluctuating rates of unemployment from October 2018 to October 2019. In the US from April to June 2019, the unemployment rate rose by 615,000, and this increase was similar to the rise for the same period in 2018 (Bls.gov para 9). In July 2019, the number of unemployed youths was 2.1 million. Thus the government needs to identify causes and solutions to create employment opportunities such that all the youths contribute to the growth of the economy.
Figure 1: Monthly Youth (16-24) unemployment rate in the US from October 2018 to October 2019.
Source: Bureau Labor of Statistics
The graph shows the unemployment rates every month for youths across the US. It shows seasonally adjusted rates, which is a statistical approach to remove the seasonal component of a time series integrated with the analysis of non-seasonal tren ...
This study aimed to understand how macroeconomic indicators like consumer confidence, stock market values, interest rates, unemployment rates, and consumer credit impacted attendance and revenue at regional theme parks. Annual data from 2007-2012 for Cedar Fair and Six Flags theme parks was analyzed using multiple regression to see if correlations existed between the macroeconomic variables and attendance/revenue at a statistically significant level. The results could help theme parks predict consumer spending patterns during different economic conditions and improve strategic planning.
Alternate Work ArrangementsVarious alternative work arrangements exi.docxgalerussel59292
Alternate Work ArrangementsVarious alternative work arrangements exist for use in businesses and other types of organizations; included among the options are compressed work weeks, flexible work schedules, telecommuting, and job sharing. This case focuses on alternative work arrangements in general rather than on a particular one exclusively; however, telecommuting does receive additional attention.The case revolves around the potential advantages and disadvantages that are associated with alternative work arrangements, and the factors that are contributing to an increased use of various alternative work arrangements by employers. With respect to the various advantages and disadvantage that are identified in the case, the positives seem to outweigh the negatives. “Organizations that offer flexible working arrangements are, and will continue to be, employers of choice. ¼ Employees consistently rank flexible schedules high on their list of desired benefits; employers who are reluctant to offer these popular perks will find themselves falling short in the bidding wars for talent.” The case identifies three underlying factors that are driving the movement toward the increased utilization of alternative work arrangements in many different workplaces. These factors are: (a) the needs, desires, and expectations of workers for greater flexibility at work; (b) fuel costs and fuel consumption associated with commuting, and the related carbon footprint impact; and (c) the restrictive impact of the 2008-2009 economic recession on job opportunities.The case concludes by pointing out that many nations have experimented successfully with various flexible work programs and some countries have enacted legislation promoting alternative work arrangements. It then poses the question: “Will the United States government and American businesses be adequately prepared to meet future economic challenges, at least in part, by embracing the movement toward increasing use of alternative work arrangements?”Case Study - Alternative Work Arrangements: Possible
Solution
s for a Plethora of Problems?Alternative work arrangements, such as compressed work weeks, flexible work schedules, telecommuting, or job sharing, can have positive and negative consequences for employers and employees. In general, alternative work arrangements can generate beneficial outcomes, particularly for employers, such as “increased employee retention, loyalty and morale; higher productivity; improved recruiting of highly qualified workers; decreased employee tardiness and unscheduled absences; and maximum use of facilities and equipment.” On the employees’ side, telecommuting—one type of alternative work arrangement—has favorable effects on perceived autonomy, the resolution of work–family conflicts, job performance, job satisfaction, and the experience of stress. What is more, it does not harm perceived career prospects or the quality of workplace relationships. On the downside, however, are the ch.
Factors affecting employment during crisis in private businesses in Kurdistan IJAEMSJORNAL
The main aim of this study is to investigate the critical factors that effecting employment during crisis in private businesses in Kurdistan. An empirical quantitative technique utilized to analyze the present research. The researcher applied a random sampling method, where all respondents had equal chances of being selected for the sample. The research was carried out at 18 private businesses in Erbil. The population of this research was approximately 341 employees, accordingly to cover the entire research population; 100 surveys were distributed but 84 forms were collected that were accomplished accurately. The results showed that the highest value was for economic factor this means that economic is strongly related to employment and has strong influence on employment during crisis in private businesses in Kurdistan.
This document discusses worker-owned cooperatives and their potential benefits compared to traditional investor-owned businesses. It begins by outlining different types of cooperatives and their defining principles. It then discusses the Labor Theory of Value and how current employment conditions like worker alienation, declining real wages, and job insecurity relate to it. The document argues that cooperatives can help alleviate these issues by giving workers ownership and democratic control over businesses. It asserts that cooperatives may also promote economic efficiency through greater productivity, reduced market inefficiencies, better long-term goals, and their handling of capital. The document concludes by discussing potential government policies to support the growth of cooperatives.
The document contains several articles on topics related to globalization such as its impact on various economies, industries and markets. One article discusses the Indonesian government taking emergency measures to address the economic recession's effects. Another examines globalization's impact on China's economic growth. A third discusses accounting standards and their adoption. Overall the document covers how globalization and the global economic situation affect many different areas worldwide.
Deloitte: The Skills Gap In U. S. Manufacturing 2015 and beyondCharlie Sutton
Over the next decade, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will need to be filled in the US. However, the skills gap is expected to result in 2 million of these jobs going unfilled. The skills gap is widening due to factors like baby boomer retirements, a lack of STEM skills among workers, and declining technical education programs. This will significantly impact manufacturers' ability to meet customer demand and implement new technologies. While manufacturers are willing to pay more to fill jobs, positions often remain vacant for 70-94 days on average due to the shortage of qualified candidates. To address this, manufacturers must boost training programs and partner with schools and governments to develop talent pipelines.
Over the next decade, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will need to be filled in the US. However, the skills gap is expected to leave 2 million of these jobs unfilled. The skills gap is widening due to factors like retiring baby boomers and economic expansion creating new jobs. Additionally, negative perceptions of manufacturing careers and a lack of technical skills are exacerbating the shortage of qualified workers. To address this challenge, manufacturers will need to improve training programs for current employees and collaborate with educational institutions to strengthen the talent pipeline for years to come.
August 7, 2012, 810 PM GMT+10 It’s time to see older work.docxcelenarouzie
August 7, 2012, 8:10 PM GMT+10
It’s time to see older workers as an asset
Why not keep older workers on the job?
Chris Farrell
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-08-07/its-time-to-see-older-workers-as-an-
asset
The footprints of an aging America are everywhere. Every day it seems another blue chip
report is issued worrying about the surging ranks of the elderly. All boomers will be 65 and
older by 2030. (The Rolling Stones’ memorable line “What a drag it is getting old” hurts,
doesn’t it?) Put somewhat differently, 19.3 percent of the population will be at least 65 in
2030, up from 13 percent in 2010, according to U.S. Census Bureau projections. The litany of
fears that goes along with an aging population ranges from a rising tide of entitlement
spending starving the public purse of money for productive investments, to Corporate
America’s innovative energies being depleted along with graying hair and aching joints of an
older workforce.
Demographics, however, aren’t destiny. Instead, an aging America is an underappreciated
and unexploited economic resource in a highly competitive global economy. Take Europe vs.
the U.S. In many parts of Europe there isn’t the kind of part-time, flexible work that’s
available in the U.S., where federal laws have outlawed employment discrimination against
age since the 1960s. Most European countries have only recently instituted such legislation.
And Europe is still struggling to convince workers to stay on the job longer. The U.S. labor
force participation rate of older male workers began climbing by the end of the 20th century.
Older women are remaining employed longer, too. “Yes, America has an aging population,”
says Nicole Maestas, economist at the Rand Corp., the Santa Monica (Calif.)-based think
tank. “The upside of that is a whole generation of people who are interested in anything but
retirement.”
The shift in sentiment is propitious, since the impact of working longer trumps demographic
gloom. The economic dependency ratio—the number of nonworkers 16 and older compared
with the number of workers 16 and older—was 50 to 100 in 1990. The Bureau of Labor
Statistics predicts the ratio will leap to 62 adult nonworkers per 100 workers in 2030, with
most of the increase coming after 2010. Government statisticians assume in their forecast that
labor force participation rates will increase though 2020 and then level off. But if this rate
doesn’t decelerate, the economic dependency ratio in 2030 would be 53, a negligible
difference over 4 decades. In other words, the concern isn’t aging: It’s working.
Of course, it’s difficult to be optimistic about jobs with the unemployment rate at 8.3 percent
38 months after the National Bureau of Economic Research officially declared the Great
Recession over. Nevertheless, the business cycle will eventually gather momentum. Plenty of
jobs will be created from now until 2030, and the odds are .
Quarterly Economic Trends for Ohio Oil and Gas Industries - April 2014Marcellus Drilling News
A quarterly report issued by Ohio's Dept. of Jobs and Family Services issues a report on how the Ohio shale industry is faring with respect economic impacts and the number of jobs. The April 2014 edition of that report shows in the two years from Q3 2011 to Q3 2013 core shale-related industry employment (like pipeline construction and well drilling) was up 5,763 (79.0 percent). Employees in core jobs had an average wage of $71,661.
A new quarterly report by Ohio's welfare agency, the Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services, details the massive impact shale drilling for oil and gas has had on jobs and the state's economy.
Employer branding is important for attracting top talent. Even Google, which is ranked one of the best places to work, promotes its culture through movies to appeal to potential candidates. A strong employer brand communicates an organization's culture, mission and values to current and prospective employees. Developing an authentic employer brand that highlights differentiating factors is key for recruitment, especially as the job market becomes increasingly competitive for top executive and technical talent.
Thanks everyone who attended this session at the 2015 Project Management Symposium at the University of Maryland. It was a pleasure and an honor to have the opportunity to lead this session.
Description
In August 2013, experts at McKinsey spent several months investigating catalysts with the potential to revitalize the US economy. They identified five areas with particular promise for creating jobs and setting the US economy on a higher long-term trajectory. This session revisits these five areas and discusses what’s working and what is not yet paying off.
About the Speaker: Hector Del Castillo, CPM, CPMM
Hector helps executives, senior managers and entrepreneurs transform ideas into a great business. He has launched over 30 global products resulting in over $200M in achieved sales revenue. He has over 15 years of experience aligning business + marketing + product strategies and creating new revenue streams to thrust companies to the next level of growth.
Connect: http://linkd.in/hdelcastillo
Upcoming Workshops
Personal Brand Deep Dive, Saturday, June 20th, Launch Workplaces, Tysons
This session will allow you to craft a compelling brand statement to find your next career opportunity. Register: http://bit.ly/branddive609
Winning Business Model Deep Dive, Thursday, June 25th, Launch Workplaces, Tysons
This session will allow you to develop or polish a viable business model to fund your company. Register: http://bit.ly/bmdive611
Wage System Manufacturing Company: Normative and ExpectationsHendra Gunawan
The study determine the wages models applied by the company in Batam which is expected to provide a wide range of reference models in different strata of wage and cluster companies. It is also expected to help the local government as a factor in determining the minimum wage policy making through recommendations wages models are ideal in Batam. Data was collected using interview techniques to the manufacturing industry in three related units in a company that is human resource, administrative staff and production staff. The results of the study were analyzed qualitatively to explore models that have been applied and the desire of employees. The model has been applied to remuneration in accordance with the general models that already exist, but there are still some wishes of the employees on the compensation of employees in the company they both administrative and production employees. Researchers also analyzed employee satisfaction with the existing system and the results are most of the employees did not feel satisfed with the remuneration system.
The document discusses the high unemployment in the US and debates the causes. It considers whether the problem is low aggregate demand or supply-side issues. While stimulus measures aimed at boosting demand helped prevent a worse downturn, continued government spending and regulatory uncertainty have increased household savings and made businesses reluctant to invest. A key factor prolonging unemployment is job losses in construction following the housing boom, which will be hard to replace and accounts for up to 3% of total unemployment. Rather than constantly boosting spending, a more sustainable approach is to retrain and reskill the unemployed.
বাংলাদেশের অর্থনৈতিক সমীক্ষা ২০২৪ [Bangladesh Economic Review 2024 Bangla.pdf] কম্পিউটার , ট্যাব ও স্মার্ট ফোন ভার্সন সহ সম্পূর্ণ বাংলা ই-বুক বা pdf বই " সুচিপত্র ...বুকমার্ক মেনু 🔖 ও হাইপার লিংক মেনু 📝👆 যুক্ত ..
আমাদের সবার জন্য খুব খুব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ একটি বই ..বিসিএস, ব্যাংক, ইউনিভার্সিটি ভর্তি ও যে কোন প্রতিযোগিতা মূলক পরীক্ষার জন্য এর খুব ইম্পরট্যান্ট একটি বিষয় ...তাছাড়া বাংলাদেশের সাম্প্রতিক যে কোন ডাটা বা তথ্য এই বইতে পাবেন ...
তাই একজন নাগরিক হিসাবে এই তথ্য গুলো আপনার জানা প্রয়োজন ...।
বিসিএস ও ব্যাংক এর লিখিত পরীক্ষা ...+এছাড়া মাধ্যমিক ও উচ্চমাধ্যমিকের স্টুডেন্টদের জন্য অনেক কাজে আসবে ...
it describes the bony anatomy including the femoral head , acetabulum, labrum . also discusses the capsule , ligaments . muscle that act on the hip joint and the range of motion are outlined. factors affecting hip joint stability and weight transmission through the joint are summarized.
Beyond Degrees - Empowering the Workforce in the Context of Skills-First.pptxEduSkills OECD
Iván Bornacelly, Policy Analyst at the OECD Centre for Skills, OECD, presents at the webinar 'Tackling job market gaps with a skills-first approach' on 12 June 2024
LAND USE LAND COVER AND NDVI OF MIRZAPUR DISTRICT, UPRAHUL
This Dissertation explores the particular circumstances of Mirzapur, a region located in the
core of India. Mirzapur, with its varied terrains and abundant biodiversity, offers an optimal
environment for investigating the changes in vegetation cover dynamics. Our study utilizes
advanced technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote sensing to
analyze the transformations that have taken place over the course of a decade.
The complex relationship between human activities and the environment has been the focus
of extensive research and worry. As the global community grapples with swift urbanization,
population expansion, and economic progress, the effects on natural ecosystems are becoming
more evident. A crucial element of this impact is the alteration of vegetation cover, which plays a
significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of our planet.Land serves as the foundation for all human activities and provides the necessary materials for
these activities. As the most crucial natural resource, its utilization by humans results in different
'Land uses,' which are determined by both human activities and the physical characteristics of the
land.
The utilization of land is impacted by human needs and environmental factors. In countries
like India, rapid population growth and the emphasis on extensive resource exploitation can lead
to significant land degradation, adversely affecting the region's land cover.
Therefore, human intervention has significantly influenced land use patterns over many
centuries, evolving its structure over time and space. In the present era, these changes have
accelerated due to factors such as agriculture and urbanization. Information regarding land use and
cover is essential for various planning and management tasks related to the Earth's surface,
providing crucial environmental data for scientific, resource management, policy purposes, and
diverse human activities.
Accurate understanding of land use and cover is imperative for the development planning
of any area. Consequently, a wide range of professionals, including earth system scientists, land
and water managers, and urban planners, are interested in obtaining data on land use and cover
changes, conversion trends, and other related patterns. The spatial dimensions of land use and
cover support policymakers and scientists in making well-informed decisions, as alterations in
these patterns indicate shifts in economic and social conditions. Monitoring such changes with the
help of Advanced technologies like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems is
crucial for coordinated efforts across different administrative levels. Advanced technologies like
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
9
Changes in vegetation cover refer to variations in the distribution, composition, and overall
structure of plant communities across different temporal and spatial scales. These changes can
occur natural.
Reimagining Your Library Space: How to Increase the Vibes in Your Library No ...Diana Rendina
Librarians are leading the way in creating future-ready citizens – now we need to update our spaces to match. In this session, attendees will get inspiration for transforming their library spaces. You’ll learn how to survey students and patrons, create a focus group, and use design thinking to brainstorm ideas for your space. We’ll discuss budget friendly ways to change your space as well as how to find funding. No matter where you’re at, you’ll find ideas for reimagining your space in this session.
A review of the growth of the Israel Genealogy Research Association Database Collection for the last 12 months. Our collection is now passed the 3 million mark and still growing. See which archives have contributed the most. See the different types of records we have, and which years have had records added. You can also see what we have for the future.
How to Fix the Import Error in the Odoo 17Celine George
An import error occurs when a program fails to import a module or library, disrupting its execution. In languages like Python, this issue arises when the specified module cannot be found or accessed, hindering the program's functionality. Resolving import errors is crucial for maintaining smooth software operation and uninterrupted development processes.
ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, and GDPR: Best Practices for Implementation and...PECB
Denis is a dynamic and results-driven Chief Information Officer (CIO) with a distinguished career spanning information systems analysis and technical project management. With a proven track record of spearheading the design and delivery of cutting-edge Information Management solutions, he has consistently elevated business operations, streamlined reporting functions, and maximized process efficiency.
Certified as an ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) Lead Implementer, Data Protection Officer, and Cyber Risks Analyst, Denis brings a heightened focus on data security, privacy, and cyber resilience to every endeavor.
His expertise extends across a diverse spectrum of reporting, database, and web development applications, underpinned by an exceptional grasp of data storage and virtualization technologies. His proficiency in application testing, database administration, and data cleansing ensures seamless execution of complex projects.
What sets Denis apart is his comprehensive understanding of Business and Systems Analysis technologies, honed through involvement in all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). From meticulous requirements gathering to precise analysis, innovative design, rigorous development, thorough testing, and successful implementation, he has consistently delivered exceptional results.
Throughout his career, he has taken on multifaceted roles, from leading technical project management teams to owning solutions that drive operational excellence. His conscientious and proactive approach is unwavering, whether he is working independently or collaboratively within a team. His ability to connect with colleagues on a personal level underscores his commitment to fostering a harmonious and productive workplace environment.
Date: May 29, 2024
Tags: Information Security, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Artificial Intelligence, GDPR
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Training: ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System - EN | PECB
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Strategies for Effective Upskilling is a presentation by Chinwendu Peace in a Your Skill Boost Masterclass organisation by the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan on 08th and 09th June 2024 from 1 PM to 3 PM on each day.
spot a liar (Haiqa 146).pptx Technical writhing and presentation skills
Chapter1 Only
1. CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION The frequency and scope of organizational downsizing in the automobile manufacturing industry has affected the stability of the American workforce, the local communities’ economy, and the lifestyle of employees who have suffered a job loss (Budros, 2005, p. 491; Wall Street Journal, 2009; Farrel & Mavando, 2004, p. 390). Many individuals employed in the automobile manufacturing industry have lost their jobs due to a downturn in sales and national economic conditions. Local communities impacted due to loss of tax revenue have fewer community amenities, and overall diminished community stability (Farrel & Mavando, 2004). These factors influence economic development in local communities, such as better schools, new businesses, and job creation. Job loss also influences the lifestyles of the unemployed workers. The primary emphasis of the current research study is to determine if, how, and to what extent job loss affects workers’ family relationships. To study the phenomenon, the proposed dissertation “An Assessment of How Job Loss Affects Economic Status and Family Relationships During the Adjustment Period: A Study of Automobile Manufacturing Workers” will develop and review appropriate data to attain relevant research findings. This study’s background information serves as the foundation, and provides a historical description of circumstances that contribute to the central problem. This information helps in the evaluation and assessment of the organizational downsizing phenomenon. The population studied is described based on the former employment affiliation with the automobile manufacturing industry. Study participants will consist of former employees of Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, Chrysler, and Delphi. This study differs from prior studies based on current events that have influenced the automobile manufacturing industry and its former employees’ peripheral quality of life issues. Prior studies have not focused on the impact to downsized workers’ family relationships, but rather conversely focused on the impacts to organizational factors such as competitiveness, productivity, layoff survivors’ morale, and public image. Economic, physical, and emotional health issues have influenced unemployed workers (Dohrenwend, Dodson, & Shrout (1984). These added stressors equate to more reliance on service delivery systems that taxpayers are responsible for maintaining. With fewer job opportunities, workers who have lost their jobs will have fewer venues to make meaningful contributions to society unless other citizens provide targeted assistance in the form of job creation or business development assistance, encouragement, monetary resources to attend colleges or vocational schools, and enhanced social service delivery programs. Organizational leaders are responsible for maintaining efficiencies and protecting the assets of the company, all while reducing liability risks. When cost-saving measures become integrated with human resource management, downsizing frequently occurs to balance the organization’s budget. Many organizations have heeded the lessons taught by the Enron and WorldCom scandals, and recognize the need to maintain the highest integrity and ethical considerations while in a leadership role. This requires personal integrity as expressed through candor, honesty, respectful communication, and directness when addressing the difficult subject of downsizing. Chapter 1 will also include demographic data regarding the workers who have been impacted the most by job loss in the automobile manufacturing industry and various other industries across the nation. Background of the Problem Approximately, 5 million jobs in the United States have been lost through organizational downsizing since December 2007, due to the national recession (Department of Labor, 2009). Unemployment is expected to escalate through 2009 to 10%, due to downsizing (Aversa, 2009). The frequency and scope of organizational downsizing in the automobile manufacturing industry has affected the stability of the American workforce, the local communities’ economy, and the lifestyle of workers and their families who have suffered a job loss. Downturns in economic conditions influence economic development, namely better schools, new businesses, and job creation. Job loss also influences the lifestyles of the unemployed workers, and likely affects family members. In the event that multiple family members in the same household experienced job loss simultaneously, which is entirely possible in the current economic climate, entire families could be displaced due to the inability to pay their mortgage debts, utilities, food, transportation, or medical costs. The budget cuts make it difficult to provide aid to those families who need it most at critical times. During the 2007-2009 recession, workers with undergraduate college degrees have been affected by massive layoffs throughout various industries in the United States (U.S). More individuals have suffered unemployment during 2007-2009 overall, with the Michigan unemployment rate at 8.7% during August 2008 (Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth site, 2008); Ohio’s unemployment rate was 7.8% (The Job Center, 2009); Kansas’ unemployment rate was 4.9% during the same time (Recession, 2009). Since the major industry in the Detroit and Dearborn, Michigan is automobile manufacturing (Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, 2008; Appendix A), Michigan labor analysts recognize that a transfiguration of its workforce must take place to allow workers to use their acquired skills to transition to new jobs in various industries within the state, and retain its citizenry. Maintaining jobs is also crucial for Michigan to retain its population to strengthen local economies. “Just as competition applies constant pressure on firms to improve and innovate, workforce skill and knowledge requirements must evolve to keep pace with employer demand” to improve employment opportunities for committed workers (Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, 2008, p. 1). “The economy’s size as described by real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) does not speak to the standard of living for its citizens,” yet helps describe the level of wealth within a specific locale (Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth site, 2008, p.1). Several additional states employ a large number of automobile manufacturing workers in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Kansas, and Ohio (Glazer, L. & Grimes, D. (2009). The study will focus on Kansas and Ohio, besides Michigan, due to the proximity to Michigan and large number of plants located in the geographical region. Approximately 2, 400 workers continue to work at General Motor’s Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas, which was spared further downsizing due to the award of new production plans to build several popular models (Heaster, 2009). General Motors plans to close temporarily 13 plants from June through August 2009, which may impact some families even further. In Ohio, significant manufacturing job losses have caused the number of unemployed workers to increase during March 2009 to 578,000, up from 567,000 in February 2009 (The Job Center, 2009). “State officials expect Ohio will continue to see several more months of losses and little recovery in the state's unemployment rate until early 2010” (The Job Center, 2009, p. 1). Mindful of the market shifts, Ford created Global 2000 that aimed to change its costs structures and decrease prices paid to its ancillary vendors (Ford, 2008). Ford’s primary competitor, General Motors, experienced significant difficulty in the fulfillment of its business objectives due to lagging consumer sales. Likely, Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors will face significant challenges in efforts to recapture their respective markets in the current economic climate. Johnson (2009) stated that both General Motors (GM) and Chrysler were expected to accept wage concessions of up to $7 per hour for automobile manufacturing workers to bring labor costs in line, per mandates from the federal government’s legislative and executive branches, which approved a $16 billion loan to maintain GM’s business for six months through June 2009. General Motors filed bankruptcy on June 1, 2009 (Rowley, 2009; Appendix L). Due to the business restructuring, numerous manufacturing plant closings were announced (WJRT, Mid-Michigan, 2009; Appendix M). The previous bankruptcy filing by Chrysler LLC on April 30, 2009 resulted in nationwide announcements of impending dealer and plant closings that will likely lead to significant job losses (Welch & Kiley, 2009; Appendix N). Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli informed Chrysler employees that business and production schedules would resume within sixty days, following the legal bankruptcy proceedings (Welch & Kiley, 2009). “Hourly employees will receive unemployment benefits, as well as supplemental pay that will amount to most of their base wages
(Welch & Kiley, 2009. p. 2). The primary emphasis of this qualitative research study is to determine if, how, and to what extent job loss affects workers’ family relationships. To study the phenomenon, the proposed dissertation An Assessment of How Job Loss Affects Economic Status and Family Relationships During the Adjustment Period: A Study of Automobile Manufacturing Workers will develop and review appropriate data to attain relevant research findings. This study’s background information serves as the foundation, and provides a historical description of circumstances that contributed to the central problem. This information helps in the evaluation and assessment of the organizational downsizing phenomenon, and if the resulting job loss impacts workers family relationships in a significant manner. The barrier may lie in if these workers possess the education and job skills to transition successfully. An additional barrier to getting a job may be a lack of skills and experience. Some older workers may face discrimination because of their age and expectation of higher salaries, comparable to their former compensation. Glazer & Grimes (2009, p. 2) indicated that Michigan’s sustainability is connected to the state’s ability to attract and retain talent. Further, Glazer & Grimes (2009, p. 2) stated that automobile manufacturing workers are among the highest paid manufacturing workforce in the nation, even though the group is considered “low –education attainment” and earns 10/% more than the national average (Appendix J). “The good-paying, low skill jobs which have been the backbone of the Michigan middle class will almost surely decline” (Glazer & Grimes, 2009, p. 2). The prospect of remaining unemployed may force workers to accept underemployment, just to work and earn a living. While some individuals may enjoy more leisure time and less work time, others prefer the structure and commitment of working to earn their living for family support. Many workers have qualified for defined benefit pensions through long service with an automobile manufacturer, and may have the option of retiring with full benefits. This action may defuse any negative reactions from family members dependent on the worker’s financial support. Statement of the Problem The general problem is job loss caused by downsizing has the potential to be detrimental to workers’ overall quality of life. The specific problem is workers who have experienced job loss may find it difficult to maintain their economic status and family relationships, which influences holistic survival issues. The threat of downsizing, some analysts believe, has made the wage cut concept seem palatable. Ford has asked for wage concessions up to $7 per hour from tenured workers (Webster, 2007) to minimize further assembly plant closings. Employees are concerned that regular jobs may be phased out and replaced with temporary workers at lower wages (Webster, 2007). Ford’s innovative robotics technology has increased safety in many plants, and decreased staffing needs in plants where job tasks are repetitive and mundane (Ford, 2008). Purpose Statement The primary purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is two-fold: to research how job loss caused by downsizing impacts workers’ quality of life, and family relationships; and to assess how workers maintain their economic status, which influences survival issues as they experience job loss adjustment. The impacts of downsizing could include workers making decisions whether or not to retain the family’s home residence, relocate to an area with better employment prospects, accept under-employment in order to work again, sell personal property to reduce debt and increase monetary assets, improve romantic relationships with spouses or partners, improve relationships with other family members and extended family, increase church attendance and spiritual faith, change careers, increase participation in recreational pursuits, attend an educational institution, or pursue self-employment. The qualitative phenomenological research method is appropriate for this study because it will allow former employees an appropriate outlet to express personal feelings, which may have not occurred prior to the study. The research design selection is appropriate also because it closely relates to the intention of gathering information in a “first person” point of view to delve into conscious and sub-conscious held beliefs by the study participants. The research method allows the focus to remain on the participants’ personal experience regarding the job loss. Phenomenological study, which is “the study of structures of consciousness as experienced from the first-person point of view,” allows a closer look into the sub-consciousness of the participants (Stanford, 2007, p.1). The major components of the downsizing action include: opportunities to change to more stable careers and industries; loss of regular income and defined employee benefits; loss of or restriction of consumer credit privileges; opportunity to make oneself more marketable by attending school with personal savings or buy-out funds to earn a college degree, license, or certification; increased likelihood that individuals will not seek frequent medical care due to limited medical benefits; increased likelihood that individuals will seek specialized medical examinations that are publicized in public service announcements and offered for free or reduced fees; increased likelihood that individuals may engage in physical fitness activities; increased likelihood that workers may have conflicts with family members and extended family; decreased ability to pay for basic living needs and luxury items; opportunity to start a personal business with buy-out funds and enhance earning potential; uncertainty regarding callback timeframe; increased stress; and negative affects on individuals’ standards of living. As a personal dilemma, each individual must find ways to influence outcomes and maintain economic equilibrium without his or her regular income (Leana & Feldman, 1990, p. 1160). Maintaining personal self-esteem and positive personal relationships before, during, and after unemployment periods are desirable and logical objectives of workers (Leana & Feldman, 1990, p. 1162). The research study will also focus on how well the former workers seek opportunities to regain stability within their lives versus how poorly they adapt to their new status. A representative sample from the target population will include 40 former automobile manufacturing employees in Michigan (Detroit and Dearborn), Ohio (Dayton and Moraine), and Kansas (Kansas City) who have experienced job loss within 2007-2009. The selected methodology is appropriate for the proposed study selection to explore how individuals cope with unemployment issues, and if job loss affects economic status, family relationships, and quality- of- life issues. The current research study is a qualitative study that does not require inclusion of a dependent or independent variable. For illustrative purposes only, the terminology is used as follows: The dependent variables of this study are the abilities of unemployed workers to make a successful adjustment from unemployed status to employed status resulting in a comparable or better job; or regularly to attend a college or vocational school, all without adapting behaviors that depict depression or long-term stress damage. The dependent variables are: the adaptation and sustenance of personal self-confidence levels, and a continuous positive and determined attitude to successfully rebound from unemployment. The variables are integrated and evaluated based on their effectiveness in protecting and strengthening family relationships during the adjustment process. The independent or exploratory variables are the workers’ healthcare benefits, the level of support from family and associates, emotional involvement with family members, and access to the social service and financial planning systems to derive basic living needs. The reason these variables are important to the study is that they bring emphasis to the importance of emotional and physical support in overcoming obstacles, and maintaining a positive attitude in dealing with adverse conditions. Using 26 structured interview questions in successive face-to-face interviews to establish rapport and generate meaningful dialogue will provide a section of the required triangulated data to create relevant research information. Significance of the Study The significance of the study is that it will highlight the affects of job loss, illustrate how organizations’ practices and protocols affect individuals’ quality of life and lead to restructuring and evaluation of these factors to make economic and personal recovery more difficult. The September 2008 jobless rate was 6.1% (Department of Labor, 2008). “In the deep recession of 1973/1974, the jobless rate reached almost 9%. There are currently about 148 million people in the US civilian workforce. If unemployment rises to nearly 10%, another six million or more people would be out of work” (McIntyre, 2008). More people are likely to be directly affected by an organizational downsizing than ever before (Wall Street Journal, 2009). Therefore, every American should learn about downsizing trends in various industries, and begin to advocate for the creation of contingency management plans, lobby for advocacy legislation, and strive to create transitional social service programs to address the concerns of workers affected by job loss. Understanding the reasons why organizations downsize is vital in understanding its expected outcomes and impacts organizations in other industries as well. Through evaluative processes including crisis mitigation research and prior strategic planning, organizations can best determine if predictive methodologies are useful in averting personnel restructuring crises. Assessing the most emergent and necessary benefits that individual workers need to successfully transition to comparable jobs in other industries, yet still having the ability to maintain their economic gains is one of the most important factors that organizational leaders must acknowledge and work towards providing appropriate tools to help their affected workers. Significance of the Study to Leadership The significance of this study to the field of leadership is that organizations should become cognizant of how job loss impacts a wide scope of American workers, their families, and the nation’s economy at large. As an example, job exports have negatively impacted the American workforce as more jobs are exported to international competitors that eradicate available jobs and drive down wages within the middle class (Preeg, 2004). The United States’ middle class cannot compete with global market leaders in terms of labor costs, mass production capabilities, and technology innovation (Preeg, 2004). Some critics claim that China is eroding the United States' leadership in technological innovation (Preeg, 2004). “For the working middle class, this means job losses, job precariousness, weakening union power, repressed wages, falling living standards, and many other social and individual woes” (Preeg, 2004, p. 401). Many workers affected by the automobile manufacturing downsizings are older workers in the Baby Boomer generation, eligible to retire within the next several years. Rather than seeking new employment, many experienced workers with varying experiential and educational attainment will likely choose to retire. Organizations will lose the benefit of the workers’ knowledge and work experience. Starting in 2010, retiring Baby Boomers will have a strong impact on the American workforce. Since not enough replacement workers are available in the technology and related fields, organizational leaders will be forced to exert pressure on the federal government to issue more immigration visas to hire international workers until more American workers are trained (US Department of Labor, 2009). With fewer workers and higher demands for workers with specific skills, imported workers will command higher wages for immigrant workers, which organizations will be forced to pay. Leadership should act and treat workers in an ethical manner, and “motivate followers to achieve a vision moored on objectives that include concern with all stakeholders, and act as a mentor or role model to followers’ moral development” (Torpman, 2004, p. 42). “Ethical leadership confers legitimacy to agencies and actors serving the public good” (Sama and Shoaf, 2008, p. 41). “The psychological contract between employers and employees has been argued to involve employees providing effort and loyalty in exchange for pay and job security” (Vickers & Parris, 2007; p. 118). Leadership should remain mindful of ways to retain the workers’ talent and knowledge by offering flexible schedules, mentoring opportunities, enhanced training for replacement workers, comparable jobs, and an inclusive multi-generational workplace. “Instead of making the news of redundancy such a shock, why not consider breaking the news of the possibility of redundancies well ahead of time and in a more general way so that particular staff are not targeted, but are warned of the downsizing likelihood” (Vickers & Parris, 2007, p. 123). Proactive leadership can plan and provide career transitional tools to aid in the recovery process following a corporate downsizing. If workers are not able to recover from losing their employment, they will continue to drain society’s resources and further impact the national economy (Dohrenwend et al., 1984; Liem & Liem, 1988; Pearlin et al., 1981). Nature of the Study The qualitative phenomenological research method will allow former employees an appropriate outlet to express personal feelings, which may have not occurred prior to the study. Examining the primary differences between a qualitative and a quantitative research study revealed a qualitative study should be used when an inquiry approach is needed and when a unique central theme will be explored, and information is gained from participants (Creswell, 2002; Sproull, 2003). Quality research addresses issues of real importance that advance the body of knowledge on specific topics, has a defined constituency and a wider audience that can generalize the findings for use (Marshall & Rossman, 1999). By focusing on increasing comprehension, quality research can enhance knowledge regarding perplexing problems that individuals, groups, and organizations face. A systematic approach is necessary, that incorporates an ethical approach with a defined methodology, using careful planning to measure variables and disclosure of measures to encourage replication and transparency (Anderson & Kanuka, 2003). The research design closely relates to the intention of gathering information in a “first person” point of view to delve into conscious and sub-conscious held beliefs by the study participants. The research method allows the focus to remain on the participants’ personal experience regarding the job loss. Phenomenological study, which is “the study of structures of consciousness as experienced from the first-person point of view,” allows a closer look into the sub-consciousness of the participants (Stanford, 2007, p. 1). The central structure of an experience is its intentionality of targeted attention towards a specific issue. “An experience is directed toward an object by virtue of its content or meaning, which represents the object, together with appropriate enabling conditions” (Stanford, 2007, p. 1). A purposive sample of 40 former automobile manufacturing workers from Michigan (Detroit and Dearborn), Ohio (Moraine and Dayton), and Kansas (Kansas City) areas will respond to open-ended discussion questions in personal interviews to establish rapport, and allow the gathering of data to conduct the research study. Questions will be asked about the individuals’ job loss adjustment experiences. With an opportunity to express true feelings of the affects of the downsizing, furloughed workers may perceive that others are concerned for their personal well-being, and sustain confidence that they will recover from the organizational downsizing. Prior studies have not explored the impact to quality of life issues experienced by automobile manufacturing workers who have suffered a job loss. As a personal dilemma, each worker must find ways to maintain physical and mental health, influence outcomes, and maintain economic equilibrium without his or her regular income. The literature search conducted on the topics outlined in the problem statement and research variables includes the background and history of downsizing, economic impacts to workers, job search results, available vocational training, health impacts, and family relationships. Research Variables The current research study is a qualitative study that does not require inclusion of a dependent or independent variable. For illustrative purposes only, the terminology is used as follows: The dependent variables of this study are the abilities of unemployed workers to make a successful adjustment from unemployed status to employed status to a comparable or better job; or to regularly attend a college or vocational school, all without adapting behaviors that depict depression or long-term stress damage. The dependent variables are: the adaptation and sustenance of personal self-confidence levels, and a continuous positive and determined attitude to rebound from unemployment. The variables are integrated and evaluated based on their effectiveness in protecting and strengthening family relationships during the adjustment process. The independent or exploratory variables are the workers’ healthcare benefits, the level of support from family and associates, emotional involvement with family members, and access to the social service and financial planning systems to derive basic living needs. The reason these variables are important to the study is that they bring emphasis to the importance of emotional and physical support in overcoming obstacles, and maintaining a positive attitude in dealing with adverse conditions. Vroom’s (1995) Expectancy Theory and Weider’s (1980) Attribution Theory comprise the study’s theoretical framework, which emphasizes individuals’ outcome expectations after following specific behavior patterns to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. Research Questions The following targeted questions guide the research development and literature selection, which is acceptable for qualitative research. Often, researchers prematurely signal how they want readers to interpret the findings of the study. The research question for the qualitative study is “posed as a general issue so as not to limit the inquiry” (Creswell, 2002, p. 70). The research question for this study will focus on gaining an understanding about the impact that job loss has on unemployed automobile manufacturing employees. The six (6) related sub-questions to study the outcome of the study are: 1. Does job loss result in workers’ depression or feelings of long-term stress? 2. Is there an impact on workers’ depression if the organization does not make further contact to offer assistance? 3. Does the job loss affect workers’ family relationships in terms of romantic involvement, positive communications, ability to pay recurring expenses, mental depression, or participation in recreational or family-oriented events when the financial “buy-out” is exhausted? 4. Does family or personal associates’ emotional or financial support significantly affect workers’ adjustment and ability to successfully transition after a job loss to a comparable or better job? 5. Does timely, comprehensive financial planning influence the workers’ mental status or the ability to make decisions about how to restructure or prioritize the family’s debt obligations? 6. How likely is the worker to use a social service delivery system during his job loss adjustment period? Theoretical Framework In formulating a theoretical perspective for examining how workers’ experiences during job loss adjustment periods actively engage or disengage them, several theories were applicable and considered, which were (a) Social Development Theory, (b) Social Learning Theory, (c) Attribution Theory, and (d) Expectancy Theory. Each framed the study assumptions and selected choice of research methods. Vygotsky's Social Development Theory posits that “social interaction plays a fundamental role in the development of cognition” (Vygotsky, 1978, p. 1) or learning and comprehension. This factor may be relevant in determining how workers conceive job loss transitional issues that could impact the study’s research variables regarding family relationships, mental health, and economic status. Bandura’s Social Learning Theory emphasizes the importance of observing and modeling the behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others. Bandura (1977, p. 146) states:
Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do.”Bandura’s and Vygotsky's theory complements the other, and emphasizes the importance of human interaction to resolve dilemmas. Supportive interaction is likely necessary to help downsized workers successfully adjust after the job loss period. The selected theoretical framework is based on Weiner’s Attribution Theory (1980, 1986; Appendix J) and Vroom’s Expectancy Theory (1959; Appendix I). Attribution theory (Weiner, 1980, 1992) incorporates behavior modification in the sense that it emphasizes that individuals are drawn to activities that produce a pleasant outcome. Pleasant experiences encourage them to interpret these successes to personal efforts and commitment to the task (Weider, 1986). Individuals’ self-perception and self-esteem levels influence how personal successes or failures are conceptualized. “According to attribution theory, the explanations that people tend to make to explain success or failure can be analyzed in terms of three sets of characteristics that can cause the success or failure of the effort: 1). may be internal or external, 2). may be either stable or unstable, 3). may be either controllable or uncontrollable (Weider, 1986). A controllable factor is one which an individual feels confident about and takes personal responsibility for successfully accomplishing a specific task. Favorable conditions in a stable environment, one in which an individual feels comfortable and motivated to succeed will likely yield positive results (Weider, 1980). Conversely, if an individual believes that whatever task he or she undertakes, the outcome is not controllable because other factors will have a significant negative impact. Depending on the success of the task, the individual will choose to take personal responsibility for a successful outcome, or blame an unsuccessful outcome on external stimuli or factors outside his or her personal sphere of control (Weider, 1980, p. 18). Vroom (1959) posited that people engage in conscious processes to determine whether to act or respond to a specific stimulus for a desired reward, and to maximize pleasure and minimize pain (Clayton, 2008; Vroom, 1995). This is based on weighing available options and perusing through mental calculations before acting upon natural instincts (Clayton, 2008). This link between the effort individuals exert and the performance they believe is achievable, Vroom called Expectancy. Based on whether the outcome is sufficiently beneficial to take affirmative action, the individual will complete the task or follow the steps to facilitate the expected outcome. The qualitative study will use the theoretical framework as a broad guide to direct the researcher’s steps in data collection and analysis, rather than as a specific test of what the theory would predict. Workers likely are more motivated to conduct a job search with the expected outcome of securing comparable or better re-employment after following the prescribed steps by an outplacement agency or through other job search resources. Since the central problem for this study is the impact that job loss has on workers from the automobile manufacturing industry and their family relationships, workers likely are eager to participate in the outplacement job search activities to secure employment within the projected 3.2 to 5.5 month timeframe (Wall Street Journal, 2009: Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2009). Due to harsh economic conditions, it may take longer to successfully attain comparable employment. Therein develops the difficulty for workers and their families, if their thought processes follow the logic. Thus, the workers’ job search would become more difficult, and the job loss adjustment would take longer. Considering that all steps are followed according to the prescribed job search program, the worker should expect to become employed again relatively quickly. If not, disappointment would likely develop, and the worker could become despondent, frustrated, angry, and fail to fully participate in the job search activities. Typical behaviors initially associated with Vroom’s Expectancy Theory may be: procrastination, selfishness, boredom, contentment. Workers self-reflection may lead to the realization that expected outcomes should change if the behaviors are not commensurate with meeting expected outcomes. A worker may become discouraged after following established protocols and remaining unemployed. How this type of setback will could affect workers’ expectancy levels shown through future job search efforts, mental attitude, interpersonal relations, physical health, or emotional health will be evaluated using Vroom’s Expectancy Theory. To counteract a negative outcome, workers could choose to adjust their behavior by: openly asking for support from family and close friends, participating in outplacement job training activities, practicing positive affirmations, adding more job search tools, creating an online presence on major career websites or weblogs, joining professional associations and networking groups to enhance communication and job search skills, and subscribing to relevant magazines to learn of job opportunities and pertinent economic factors. Subsequently, based on Vroom’s Expectancy Theory, the adjustment would come in the form of a viable offer of employment. In Vroom’s Expectancy Theory, the link between performance and anticipated outcome is what Vroom called Instrumentality (1995). Vroom (1995) believed that in every situation that involves potential decision-making, individuals conduct a mental calculation to determine if the action is beneficial and relevant to what they want to accomplish, and conceptualize it within the theory’s formula: Motivation (M) = V (Valence) x E (Expectancy (Vroom, 1995; Manage 12 Business, 2009). If one or more of these values is too low, individuals’ motivation to succeed or act will be low (Vroom, 1995). If individuals do not believe in the merit of the proposition, they will not expend any effort to achieve the goal or participate in the activity. Or, if they continually expend effort but do not achieve the expected goal, individuals will stop trying and transition to another task. With financial planning and educational benefits added to workers’ buyout portfolios, workers appear more equipped to handle short-term budgetary goals and maintain their economic status. However, with long term unemployment, the research may indicate that workers will face more challenges in attaining comparable employment. Rather than remaining unemployed, workers may have to choose underemployment and generate less income, change career fields, or complete and educational program to be competitive with other job seekers. In Hamilton, Hoffman, Broman, & Rauma (1993), job loss and failure of job seeking depicted a strong causal relationship with depression and suicidal thoughts. In the current study, with the possibility that workers may have participated in prior financial planning initiatives or saved money to cover an unemployment period, workers may not experience significant feelings of depression. Workers may also choose a lifestyle change, such as educational attainment, which may significantly delay a job search. Research indicates that economic, physical, and emotional health issues have influenced unemployed workers (Dohrenwend, Dodson, & Shrout (1984). The term downsizing has become synonymous with business downturns, negative economic impact, and poor fiscal controls and strategic operations management (Aversa. 2009). When organizations downsize, they normally follow specific steps 1.) workforce reduction, 2). organizational redesign, 3).systematic strategy focused on changing the attitudes, values, and culture of the organization (Huber and Glick, 1993). Cole (1995) describes the methodology used to reduce headcount: early retirement, transfers, outplacement services, and buy-out packages. The current number of people receiving unemployment compensation benefits is the highest since May 1983, following a steep recession (Department of Labor, 2009). Research suggests that employment has improved in education, healthcare, engineering, information technology, and federal government job classifications in multiple organizations in the nation (Department of Labor, 2009). Individuals work for various reasons, even in occupations that are distasteful for various reasons. The automobile manufacturing industry has provided stable and lucrative middle-class incomes and lifestyles to workers with low education levels (Glazer & Grimes, 2009, p. 1), who have adapted to the factory culture and changes inherent within the industry. Clearly, this phenomenon suggests that workers are having difficulty finding new employment. The intent of this research study is to add to the body of knowledge on Attribution Theory and Expectancy Theory related to job loss by addressing how leadership and family members influence, motivate, or demotivate workers as they strive to successfully adjust. The current research study fits within the existing literature and research in the field by giving updated data from 1993 regarding downsizing of automobile manufacturing workers. The current research study will contribute to the existing body of literature by updating stakeholders on the progress made to help downsized workers as they make the adjustment after the job loss to finding suitable income replacement or educational opportunities. Since 1993, the year of the last comprehensive study on downsized automobile manufacturing workers (Hamilton, Broman, Hoffman, & Renner, 1990; Hamilton, Hoffman, Broman, & Rauma (1993), more targeted benefits have been added to provide direct assistance to workers. However, in the current economic climate, workers may face additional challenges to make a successful adjustment. Definition of Terms Throughout the study, various terms have been used to communicate relevant principles regarding the impact of job loss to workers. Many have similar meanings but are used in various contexts. To provide consistency and comprehension throughout the study, specific definitions are provided. Buyout is a financial incentive offered to an employee in exchange for an early retirement or voluntary resignation (Merriam Webster Dictionary Online, 2008). The typical buyout programs include lump sum payments of up to $140K, tuition reimbursement and traditional early-retirement packages (Ford, 2008). Automobile manufacturing workers are typically given the option of remaining with the company and facing possible layoffs, wage and benefit reductions, or severing all connections with the employer for a specified amount of money that is dependent on tenure and job classifications (General Motors, 2009; Ford Motor Company, 2009). Due to the bankruptcy filing of Chrysler, and the likely bankruptcy filing of General Motors, employee buyouts may become entangled in upcoming court proceedings. As more employees face the likelihood of job losses, the impact to their economic status and family relationships may be even more significant than anticipated. Corporation is a body formed and authorized by law to act as a single person although constituted by one or more persons and legally endowed with various rights and duties including the capacity of succession (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2008). A corporation’s owners have limited liability, which allows the corporation to stand alone separate from the personal assets of the owners and board members (Investor Words, 2009). Typically, automobile manufacturing organizations are aggregate corporations, meaning multiple owners are involved (Investor Words, 2009). Within a corporation, senior executives are expected to make strategic decisions about operational priorities to protect corporate assets. Displaced worker is an employee who has been forced to terminate his or employment (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2008; US Department of Labor, 2009). All 50 states administer the federal program for dislocated or displaced workers, to provide employment and subsidized training to enhance personal marketability for workers who have suffered a job loss through no fault of their own. As companies continue to downsize, they can turn to a variety of innovative programs that are available from both federal and state governments. Helping downsized workers become more marketable to gain new employment, displaced workers receive targeted assistance to prepare for now careers in healthcare, law, information technology, among other fields (Barnes, 1983). The federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) provides services through funding that is based on a formula that refers to the distribution of unemployment in each state’s area (US Department of Labor, 2009). WIA allows each state to provide eligible workers enhanced re-training to become eligible for high growth jobs (U.S. Department of Labor, 2009). Downsizing is similar to displacing a worker, and involves firing the employees for the purpose of saving expenses for an organization. The typical practice is allowing the displaced worker to receive a severance package to provide financial assistance for a specified period (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2008). Downsizing is also referred to as termination for convenience, which is commonly incorporated into government contracts (Business Dictionary, 2009). In Vickers & Parris, (2007) downsizing is defined as the intentional or planned elimination of positions or jobs; being made redundant. Downturn describes a measurable decline in business and economic activity (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2008). “Marked by high unemployment, stagnant wages, and fall in retail sales, a recession generally does not last longer than one year and is much milder than an economic depression (Business Dictionary, 2009). Typically, the economy travels through a predictable cycle that includes expansion, peak, recession, and recovery (National Bureau of Economic Research, 2009). Phenomenological is a philosophical movement that describes the formal structure of the objects of awareness, and of awareness itself in abstraction from any claims concerning existence. When allowing a study participant to tell his or her story, it allows the participant to share his or her firsthand story, the lived experience (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2008). Phenomenological design allows researchers the unique ability to examine everyday human experience in close, detailed ways (DeMarrias & Lapan, 2004, p. 56). Phenomenological study, which is “the study of structures of consciousness as experienced from the first-person point of view,” allows a closer look into the sub-consciousness of the participants (Stanford, 2007). Recession is described as a period of an economic contraction measured by unemployment statistics and low economic growth and a widespread decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which the consumption of gross investments and government is spending plus exports minus imports (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2009; Wall Street Journal, 2009). Since December 2007, the U.S. has been in an economic recession, which has contributed to the resulting layoffs and downsizings across the nation (Wall Street Journal, 2009). Reorganization is the financial reconstruction of a business concern, typically used as a cost savings measure that may involve downsizings or furloughs (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2008). Unemployment is a problem that comes and goes with the modern financial cycle and business downturns that equates to job loss that may include compensation and employee fringe benefit packages (Recession, 2009; National Economic Research, 2009). Assumptions Several assumptions can be made in this qualitative phenomenological study; that employees depend on personal incomes to survive on a daily basis and take care of family needs. More workers are interested in re-employment in comparable or better manufacturing jobs than attending college or vocational school for a degree, license, or certification. Logical interpretation of the data indicates that automobile manufacturing workers’ educational level is at or above the ninth grade level making them capable of learning new job skills; job performance issues do not impact the downsizing decision; consideration of race, gender, or age does not impact the overall downsizing decision. Scope This study’s scope will focus on automobile manufacturing and related industry workers who have suffered a job loss in Michigan (Detroit and Dearborn), Kansas (Kansas City), and Ohio (Moraine and Dayton). An evaluation of the affects of job loss on automobile manufacturing industry employees is the central theme of this study. A significant number of study limitations exist, which have the potential to influence the research findings. Limitations Due to organizational privacy concerns, there may be a lack of exposure to internal environments within the automobile manufacturing plants may make attaining data more difficult. Outreach efforts to multiple agencies who have direct contact with downsized workers may provide additional access for research purposes. The possibility exists that not enough former workers will participate in the research study in a single location. This underscores the importance of conducting the research in multiple locations with large populations of downsized workers from various organizations. Respondents may give untruthful answers to interview questions to protect their privacy. Establishing rapport with respondents and ensuring confidentiality of the responses, personally identifying information and proper records maintenance is necessary. Timely completion of interview responses is necessary to meet the university’s requirements and maintain respondents’ interest in participating in the study. The inability to secure enough participants will limit data collection and analysis. Therefore, aggressive and timely recruitment of eligible participants will likely generate a significant number of participants in each of the 3 locations. The literature is primarily limited to scholarly articles, not devoted to job loss or impact to families. Most of the peer-reviewed articles on the specific research topic were developed 20 years prior to the current study. Another limitation is the researcher may have personal biases based on family members’ occupations in the automobile manufacturing industry, and the researcher’s personal experience with job loss due to organizational downsizing in a different industry. Delimitations To counteract the described limitations to the study, it may be helpful to customize a questionnaire to the industry and specific geographic locations. Stressing confidentiality of the study responses and findings may encourage open and truthful communication. The researcher can offer to send a copy of transcribed individual responses to participants, and a summary report without clients’ personally identifiable information to the participating organizations. Informing the respondents of possible benefits if the hosting organization receives a blind summary of the findings may encourage open communication. Communicating the importance of the participants’ feedback in possibly changing future corporate protocols and practices that could influence similarly situated individuals in the future may also encourage more productive communication between the respondents and the researcher. Summary and Organization of the Remainder of Study The national recession of 2007-2009 has negatively impacted the automotive manufacturing industry that has caused widespread plant closings and massive job losses for its workers. Chapter 1 introduced the problem statement and purpose statement to provide the research’s intent, objectives, and importance. The role of organizational leaders was discussed, coupled with how they must assess the impact of job loss on workers and their families who share the collective burdens of the aftermath. In this way, support of the workers’ quality of life issues can be provided in a balanced fashion, allowing workers to find alternative methods to generate suitable income and preserve the family’s status. Milkman (1997) posited that a job loss was beneficial for many workers who found the work conditions oppressive and unsuitable. These individuals took the buyout incentive, and volunteered for the job separation in order to find satisfaction in an alternative career or personal pursuit. Other downsized workers were forced into the job loss through downsizing, which may have been caused drastic life adjustments. The information in Chapter 2 indicates that job loss is not exclusive to the automotive manufacturing industry. In the current economic climate, many organizations and approximately 5 million jobs in the United States have been lost through downsizing since December 2007 (US Department of Labor). Due to the overarching impact of job loss to the U.S. workforce, further studies warrant deeper investigation to determine and evaluate specific impacts and possible crossover effects across various industries and organizations. Coping strategies, family dynamics related to job loss, alternative career searches, prior research, and current literature findings will be provided for consideration. Chapter 3 will present the study’s proposed phenomenological design research design and methodology. Phenomenological design “allows researchers the unique ability to examine everyday human experience in close, detailed ways” (DeMarrias & Lapan, 2004, p. 56). Participation in a face-to-face interview with selected study participants using targeted recruitment methods will allow a closer look into the sub-consciousness of the participants (Stanford, 2007). The research variables and emerging themes will be integrated with the central research question to incorporate projected findings. Chapter 4 will provide the results of the research, interview transcripts, and data coding methods used to classify the data (Blum, Edwards, Goes, Morelli, Salerno & Simon, 2005). Demonstrating the efficiency of Vroom’s Expectancy Theory will be included in Chapter 4, as well. Lastly, Chapter 5 will provide the study’s conclusions, implications from research findings, emergent theme patterns, and recommendations for further research.