Labour Research April 2004

Health & Safety Matters

Sick of downsizing

Downsizing may adversely affect the health even of workers who keep their jobs, according to new research.

Research in Finland found that major downsizing was associated with an increase in sickness absence among permanent employees - who were also twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease.

Jussi Vahtera and others, "Organisational downsizing, sickness absence, and mortality: 10-town prospective cohort study", British Medical Journal, 23 February 2004.