Understanding the Individual-Level Consequences of Strikes: A Systematic Review and Future Research Directions

Abstract

Strikes are a recurring workplace phenomenon that affects strikers, their families, and managers, but also others such as commuters. To date, studies examining individual-level effects of strikes have been scattered across different fields of study. This systematic literature review summarizes studies on these effects and on how unaffected third parties, such as the public, evaluate strikes. We conducted searches in four databases. The 72 included studies show that strikes can have detrimental effects, for example, on psychological health, but these can be decreased with resources such as social support. Based on the existing literature, we developed the comprehensive strike aftermath framework as an overarching framework in which we incorporate avenues for future research. We conclude that research on this work phenomenon is still scarce and future research on long-lasting effects of strikes on managers’ and employees’ health and work attitudes is needed.