Corporate Downsizing During the COVID-19 Era: The Role of Emotional Intelligence, Motivation Theories, and Effective Communication in Human Resource Management
Keywords:
Corporate downsizing; COVID-19; emotional intelligence; employee motivation; effective communication; virtual layoffs; organizational behavior; human resource management; employee well-being; crisis managementAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges for organizations worldwide and forced many businesses to adopt workforce reduction strategies to sustain operations during periods of uncertainty. Along with economic pressure and organizational restructuring, companies increasingly shifted from traditional face-to-face interactions to remote communication methods, including virtual layoffs. This transition introduced new concerns regarding employee well-being, motivation, emotional stress, and organizational trust. This paper examines corporate downsizing during the COVID-19 era through the perspectives of emotional intelligence, motivational theories, and effective communication. The study analyzes examples of organizational downsizing practices and evaluates their impact on dismissed employees as well as layoff survivors. Particular attention is given to communication barriers associated with online environments and leadership behavior during crisis situations. The paper also provides practical recommendations aimed at improving the downsizing process through transparent communication, empathetic leadership, and employee-centered management approaches.
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