Is it Survival Guilt or Post Downsizing Stress Syndrome?
Since the recession began, about half of the companies in the US have announced job cuts, and for many of them it was not their first furlough nor is it likely to be their last.
Those who still hold their jobs are expected to feel lucky, but they don’t. Responsible for the work that was done by those who have left, and worried that their own job is far from secure, these ‘lucky’ individuals often suffer from what has been called ‘survivor guilt.’ That is, they have survived the job cuts but feel guilty that they have been spared while many of their co-workers have been sent home to face bleak prospects.
If the pressure from job cuts is short-lived and if management works with and provides support to those left behind, survivor guilt may be short-lived. Many can recover from the sense of guilt, frustration, and even anger in about a month.
But as the recession deepens, as the organization resorts to a series of job cuts, and if management neglects the psychological needs of its workforce, survivor guilt may turn into Post Downsizing Stress Syndrome, a term I coined about 12 years ago in article I wrote for Business Forum.
Post Downsizing Stress Syndrome is a psychological response that may surface after a series of layoffs. The syndrome increases anxiety about work-related issues and eventually affects one’s health, personal life and attitudes about work. Those afflicted feel a sense of hopelessness about their future. Many do not complain, but a substantial number of those, based on my study, are affected.
The stress that develops in a downsized environment is different from traditional job stress from several reasons.
- A downsized environment is often beyond the immediate control of the company.
- Stress levels affect almost everyone in the organization.
- There are few options to escape, certainly transferring within the company will not help.
- It can increase as the frequency of job cuts both within the survivor’s company at other companies occur.
PDSS should not be confused with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a disorder in which a significant trauma has occurred such as a physical disaster, war, sexual abuse or accident.
Can PDSS lead to PTSD? The answer is yes, but it is not common. Many years ago a senior executive, 58 years old, from IBM was cut as the result of a corporate downsizing/restructuring effort. Shortly after he lost his job he became depressed, and unresponsive in social situations. The syndrome persisted and he never recovered.
How many are affected by PDSS? While half of the work force in a downsized organization may suffer from survivor guilt, about 20 to 30 percent may be afflicted with Post Downsizing Stress Syndrome.
Here is a list of symptoms, but you do not have to suffer from all of them to suffer from PDSS. Each person is different.
- Mistrust of management accompanied by frequent criticisms of policies and procedures
- Absence of loyalty accompanied by very active search of job wanted sites.
- High stress levels
- Irritability
- Shame
- Guilt
- Loss of confidence in oneself
- Depression
- Outbursts of anger
- Low self esteem
- Difficulty in concentrating over long periods of time
- Sense of helplessness about future employment possibilities
- Much less interest in participation in significant activities
- Drop in productivity
- Mistrust of management
- Lack of loyalty
- Loss of pride in organization
- Acts of sabotage
- Difficulty falling and staying asleep
- Increased absenteeism
- Sinking morale
- Increased resistance to change.
- Family Discord
How can you tell if you may be suffering from survivor guilt or PDSS?
Take this test.