Downsizing goes east? Employment re-structuring in post-socialist Poland

Abstract

This article reports case study research on the practices of employment restructuring in four Polish organizations in the post-socialist period. It finds that Polish managers have generally adopted less harsh practices than their western counterparts. Key influences in this respect are the values and beliefs of managers, the role of trade unions and the nature of Polish labour law. The article concludes by suggesting that increasing pressures on Polish managers may well see more convergence with western practice and that the implications of this are not favourable for Poland's developing market economy.