Toronto: How has the global downturn affected employees' psyche?

In an interesting categorisation of employees' behaviour in these recessionary times, Canada's world-famous Queen's School of Business at Kingston near here has clubbed them into seven groups.

According to Douglas Reid, who is an associate professor of global business at Queen's School of Business, employees in recession-era workplaces typically fall into the seven broad categories.

He lists them under new terminology, with the Terminated topping the list.

The Terminated: These employees may not be physically present in the organisation, but their memories linger and affect those that stay.

The Fearful: These employees fear they will be getting the axe next. Though they are ready to search for a new job, they cling to whatever certainty their existing situation affords.

The Indifferent: This group believes that the recession is going to affect someone else, not them.

The Delighted: These are the high performers who delight in the improvement in their situation relative to the average consumer via sales and discounts.

The Apocalyptic: This is a small group that believes that the recession presents a necessary 'reset' for a myriad list of failures in the existing system of capitalism.

The Longers: They are hoping for a severance package and are optimistic that they will quickly land another employment.

The Engaged: They form the core of a company's renewal efforts. They understand the consequences of the recession and what needs to be done to help the business recover.

According to Reid: "Managers encounter a wider range of on-the-job behaviours than simple economic reasoning predicts.

"Relying on fear as a management tool is as poor a choice during a recession as it is during a boom."

Rated as Canada's top business institute, Queen's School of Business is also one of the world's premier business schools. Apart from Canada, the school runs its business programmes in the US and the United Arab Emirates.

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