Purpose – To advise HR professionals how to handle major change and redundancies. Design/methodology/approach – The paper shows how HR professionals are helped to cope when handling unexpected change. Findings – The article focuses on the “cycle of grief” and how this can help...

Purpose – Details major reforms at EMI, including a significant cut in the number of employees, following a private‐equity‐firm buy‐out. Design/methodology/approach – Focuses on how consultancy firm Penna worked with EMI to implement a “cost‐down, talent‐up” approach, which...