The Ethics of Downsizing: Perceptions of Rights and Responsibilities

• Published in: Journal of business ethics Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 145 - 156
• Main Authors: Hopkins, Willie E., Hopkins, Shirley A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Kluwer Academic Publishers 01-01-1999; D. Reidel Pub. Co
• Subjects: Business ethics; Business management; Business structures; Chief executive officers; Corporate responsibility; Dismissals; Employees; Ethics; Labour law; Layoffs; Management; Media ethics; Morality; Responsibility; Right; Social ethics
• ISSN: 0167-4544; 1573-0697
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1005908411641

Within the context of employee rights and management social responsibility, this paper identifies and explores three ethical dimensions of downsizing. Using ANOVA and Scheffe post-hoc statistical techniques, groups involved in the downsizing decision making process were compared with groups affected by the process on each ethical dimension. Results indicated that those affected by the process attached greater ethical significance to these dimensions than those who were involved in formulating and implementing/communicating downsizing decisions.