The impact of change on corporate service staff in a public safety agency

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) Melbourne, is at the crossroads. Change is sweeping the economic and political environment within which international fire services operate. The MFB is not insulated from this change. Unless alternative productivity strategies can be achieved, the emergency response sector of the Brigade will suffer the same fate as the corporate sector of the MFB and other statutory authorities. Downsizing within this sector has been occurring in response to the above conditions over the past four years. This study investigates the impact of change upon public safety agencies in general, then compares data gathered on the MFB against this to: • Identify the level of organisational commitment that currently exists; • Develop an understanding of the impact of downsizing upon public sector employees. This study reviews the body of literature concerned with culture and change, downsizing and outsourcing and examines and builds upon the framework of previous research, particularly in the area of downsizing and its impact upon survivors. The study was designed as a one shot correlational study. A questionnaire was designed and administered to the population. Responses were analysed and discussed in context with the referenced literature. This study extends previous research in that it compares those findings with current findings. Low morale, job insecurity, poor communication and negativity have been identified as consistent with that of previous research (Brockner 1992; Brockner, Grover and Blonder 1988; Cascio 1993). In other areas the findings vary from previous research, in that organisational commitment remains high, contrary to the literature