The Difference for Managers and Professional Staff in 1980 Available to Purchase

The remaining question about reactions to unemployment for this group was whether they passed through the same phases of shock, optimism, pessimism and acceptance suggested in previous studies. Harrison referred to doubt beginning within three weeks, demoralisation starting by the 11th week and beginning to settle by the 17th week, about four months. Hill suggested that “after nine months to a year out of work the individual tends to settle down to a life of unemployment”. Fifteen of the men in this sample had been unemployed for between two and six months, two for eight or nine months, and three for between one and two years. Most had passed through the shock phase, but none really had reached the pessimism or acceptance stage. A few did go through spells of pessimism about getting another job, but this could not be taken as permanent pessimism. Few had reached the stage of accepting a lower job or salary. On the basis of their self report, either this group was not going through the same phases as previously reported for blue collar workers or they were going through them at a much slower pace. The evidence suggested that as a result of several factors, the latter was the case.