When layoffs hit, who do employees turn to for advice? Our latest study dives into the hidden shifts in workplace networks during corporate downsizing. Using network theory and ERGM modeling, we examined how employees in a European IT service provider adapted their advice-seeking behavior when facing sudden restructuring.
Key insights:
1: Employees reallocate advice ties away from higher-ups and towards hierarchical equals, signaling a shift in trust and accessibility.
2: Those who previously avoided reaching out to senior colleagues begin networking upwards post-downsizing, suggesting a shift in survival strategies.
3: Individual resilience varies, influencing how and when employees seek new advice sources.
When it comes to veering back from downsizing it thus is not just about who stays or goes—it’s about how knowledge flows and networks evolve in times of uncertainty. This article coauthored by Sander Smit of TU Delft and myself recently appeared in the European Management Journal, open access as:
Aalbers, R., & Smit, A. (2025). Advice tie reallocation under organizational downsizing: A longitudinal network study. European Management Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2025.01.009
How have you seen internal advice networks shift during periods of change? Let’s discuss.
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