A survey conducted by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University has uncovered that American workers are angry about the lack of support from the government and employers following layoffs. The majority of adults surveyed did not receive severance pay after losing their jobs and few were extended health benefits or job-placement assistance. Thirty-one percent of those surveyed felt that President Bush has not done a good job of handling high unemployment. Carl Van Horn, co-author of the study, warns that there will be a backlash from frustrated workers if layoffs are not handled in a better way. Americans have developed a pessimistic attitude toward the job market and many fear future layoffs.
See "Workers jaded by job losses, no assistance", T. Shawn Taylor, Chicago Tribune, July 29, 2003