Muscovites Fear Layoffs

Forty percent of Muscovites are worried about layoffs connected with employers’ difficulties because of the world crisis, according to PRP Group research. Office workers are more worried than those who do physical labor (49% vs. 34%). About 42 percent of Muscovites think the companies they work for will experience financial difficulties next year; 59 percent of Muscovites fear the crisis will hit their family budgets.

The research shows that Muscovites are having trouble assessing the crisis due to a lack of objective information. Employees receive little information from management. Forty-seven percent of respondents wanted more discussion with executives about the crisis and how the country’s financial problems will affect their companies; 56 percent say their companies’ management did not say anything in the last two weeks about the possible effects of the crisis. But 69 percent discussed it on their own at work. Sixty-four percent of those who discussed the crisis with their superiors believed what they said about it. Forty-four percent of respondents say the management of their companies should call an assembly of employees to answer their questions. Another 33 percent suggest using the company Intranet or email for that purpose.

The research was conducted November 14-16 among 400 working residents of Moscow. The margin of error is 5 percent. The Russian Federal Labor and Employment Service (Rostrud) predicts that 200,000 people may lose their jobs in the coming months, mainly in December and January. Rostrud notes that more than half of the dismissals will not be related to the crisis.