This detailed, comprehensive study on downsizing in Europe is underpinned by cross-national, interdisciplinary empirical research on restructuring management in five European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It contains systematic national comparative overviews, and transversal analyses of more than 30 in-depth case studies, taking into account a broad range of perspectives across professional human resources managers, unions' representatives, local and national civil servants, social workers and physicians.The authors examine strategic choices and practices in national and local contexts, showing that the practice of restructuring is not as heterogeneous as many previous studies have indicated or predicted. Systematic policy proposals for better economic and social management of restructuring are also prescribed. This team of well-known economists and social scientists have prepared a book that will appeal to consultants and human resource managers and employees, especially in transnational firms, as well as to students in industrial relations, in labour economics, and in sociology. It will also be of special interest to members of the European Commission and policymakers involved in employment and social affairs.
Contents:IntroductionFrederic Bruggeman and Bernard Gazier1. Comparing Restructuring Processes Across European Countries Bernard Gazier2. The Restructuring Process: Towards a Comprehensive AnalysisDominique Paucard3. Restructuring and Innovation: From Employment Protection to Anticipation and Employability MeasuresFrederic Bruggeman4. Restructuring in Belgium: A Corporatist RegimeFrederic Naedenoen5. Restructuring in France: Law Driven Restructuring Maxime Petrovski, Rachel Beaujolin-Bellet, Frederic Bruggeman and Claude-Emmanuel Triomphe6. Germany: Negotiated RestructuringMatthias Knuth and Gernot Muhge7. The Swedish Model of RestructuringOla Bergstrom and Andreas Diedrich8. United Kingdom: Market Driven RestructuringSian Moore and Geof Luton9. Innovative Restructuring - Learning from Company ExperienceOla Bergstrom and Andreas Diedrich10. The Role of European Trade Unions in Organisational Restructuring Processes - Obstacles or Facilitators?Sian Moore, Greg Thomson and Geof Luton11. Supporting Job Transitions: The Roles of Employers, Worker Representatives, Public and Private AgenciesMatthias Knuth12. The Territory: An Innovation Laboratory for Steering Multi-actor RestructuringRachel Beaujolin-Bellet13. The Network Business in the Face of Restructuring: The Case of Employers' GroupsGelica Dalon and Francois Pichault14. Health Impact of Enterprise Restructuring: Innovative Approaches in OrganisationsThomas Kieselbach and Debora Jeske15. Does Europe have Restructuring Policies?Claude Emmanuel Triomphe ConclusionFrederic Bruggeman and Bernard GazierIndex
