Temporary Layoff - Publications - Faculty & Research

February 2014
Background Note

Furloughs: An Alternative to Layoffs for Economic Downturns

By: Sandra J. Sucher and Susan J. Winterberg

This note describes the practice of employee furloughs (also known as work sharing or short-time work) including their regulatory frameworks in different countries and the business and ethical implications of their use. View Details

Keywords: Work Sharing; Furloughs; Temporary Layoff; Short Time Work; Employee Relationship Management; Job Cuts and Outsourcing

Citation

Educators

Purchase

07 Jan 2015
Research & Ideas

The Quest for Better Layoffs

were convinced that their classmates had no idea what it would be like to be in a small town in New England, and to no longer have a source of employment." “We want to change the way layoffs are done” Those emails have led to a... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Manufacturing

03 Oct 2023
HBS Case

Layoffs Can Be Bad Business: 5 Strategies to Consider Before Cutting Staff

The pattern has become painfully predictable in recent years: As the economy shows signs of a slowdown, companies hand out layoff notices to stabilize profitability and calm investor fears. That cycle seems to be in place in the... View Details

Keywords: by Ben Rand; Telecommunications; Technology; Financial Services; Manufacturing

09 Sep 2015
Research & Ideas

Leadership Lessons of the Great Recession: Options for Economic Downturns

had been in Cote’s position during the recession. Among the options students were asked to consider were whether to use layoffs or to use furloughs (also known as work sharing or short-time work), an alternative to View Details

Keywords: by Sandra Sucher & Susan Winterberg; Aerospace; Electronics

03 Dec 2020
Research & Ideas

Cut Payroll Costs with Transparency, Fairness, and Compassion

company Sysco reduced staffing levels by a third via furloughs and layoffs but also did a deal with Kroger supermarkets to provide some of Sysco’s furloughed workers temporary work at distribution centers.... View Details

Keywords: by Boris Groysberg and Sarah Abbott

26 Jun 2020
Research & Ideas

Why Japanese Businesses Are So Good at Surviving Crises

says Harvard Business School professor Hirotaka Takeuchi, was their dedication to responding to the needs of employees and the community first, all with the moral purpose of serving the common good. Less important for these companies, he says, was pursuing View Details

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman

16 Apr 2020
Research & Ideas

Has COVID-19 Broken the Global Value Chain?

transparency through data sharing in order to better track the chain of subcontractors. THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS More Business-Related Pandemic Coverage from Around Harvard and Beyond How to Manage Coronavirus Layoffs with Compassion... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

Publications