Healing the Wounds: Overcoming the Trauma of Layoffs and Revitalizing Downsized Organizations

5.4. Sense of Unfairness and Anger over Top Management Pay and Severance

These survivors had much more anger than the earlier survivors over the perceived unfairness of top management severance and bonus payments:

• "There was such a wave of anger that people felt about that [severance payments to top management]. It was shameful to be part of the organization, that they would do that!" (administrative employee)

• "We took away from employees, we took away from retirees, we took away from everybody. Where did it go? Right to those people that walked out the door with the million-dollar parachutes. It was so shameful! Even now, after all these years, I realize everybody has the same anger about it." (administrative employee)

• "My message to top management ...