UNTITLED - COMMENT

In a paper concerned with the effects of layoffs upon survivors, Brockner et al. (1993) suggest that managers may make survivors with low self esteem worried about future layoffs to increase work motivation. This conclusion may be suspect for a number of reasons: (a) only a small percentage of the variance was accounted for by the interaction in a field study; (b) measurements of self-esteem, worry and motivation were taken either concurrently or very close to each other in the two studies reported; and (c) potential health related consequences may eventually lead to decreased work motivation.