Organisational downsizing, sickness absence, and mortality: 10-town prospective cohort study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Sociology of Work

Background:

• Workplace downsizing, a common organizational strategy, has potential implications for employee well-being.
• Previous research has explored the psychological impact of job insecurity, but the direct effects on physical health outcomes require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate organizational downsizing as a predictor of increased sickness absence and mortality.
• To determine the relationship between the extent of personnel reduction and subsequent employee health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study was conducted over 7.5 years in four Finnish towns.
• Data included 5909 male and 16521 female municipal employees who retained their jobs.
• Sickness absence rates and mortality (all-cause and cause-specific) were analyzed in relation to downsizing categories (none, minor, major).

Main Results:

• Major downsizing was linked to increased sickness absence in permanent employees (P < 0.001), but not temporary ones.
• A significant association was found between the extent of downsizing and cardiovascular deaths (P < 0.01).
• Cardiovascular mortality was twice as high after major downsizing, with a fivefold increase in the first four years post-downsizing.

Conclusions:

• Organizational downsizing is associated with increased sickness absence and elevated risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.
• These findings underscore the adverse health consequences for employees who remain in their jobs following workforce reductions.
• Further research should explore mechanisms linking downsizing to cardiovascular health.