Resilience needs of retrenched workers: An intervention study of retrenched workers in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Abstract

Job loss comes with severe challenges that affect the psychosocial, economic, and overall wellbeing of victims. Providing such affected persons with psychosocial support is recommended as an important element of building resilience. Thus the study sought to help the retrenched workers to become aware of the resilience needs to facilitate early supportive programmes before the conditions become severe. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample size of 19 participants. The sample size was determined by the saturation level which occurred when the participants were repeating responses. The participants had varied educational backgrounds and previous work-related experiences. Of the participants, 12 (63%) were permanently employed before retrenchment while the other 7(37%) were not. In-depth interviews were conducted, using semi-structured interview guides, to collect data on the resilience needs of the sample. Data were grouped into themes, categories, subcategories and analysed using both content and thematic analysis. The study found that premature loss of employment through retrenchment brings a sense of hopelessness, helplessness, uncertainty, guilt, and shame among the retrenched workers. It was concluded that social connectedness, relational structures, and emotional regulation were important protective factors of building resilience in the face of employment loss. Functional cognitive skills enabled the retrenched workers to exercise positive thinking. Professional mental health counselling services helped to restore the lost hope and confidence among the retrenched workers.