Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

School

Leadership

Committee Chair

Dr. Amin Alizadeh

Committee Chair School

Leadership

Committee Member 2

Dr. H. Quincy Brown

Committee Member 2 School

Leadership

Committee Member 3

Dr. Mary Funk

Committee Member 3 School

Leadership

Committee Member 4

Dr. Casey Maugh Funderburk

Committee Member 4 School

Leadership

Abstract

Organizational downsizing and workforce reduction strategies have become increasingly common in the federal government as agencies seek to improve efficiency and manage operational costs. One strategy is the implementation of Reduction-in-Force (RIF) actions, which allow agencies to restructure their workforce by eliminating positions or reducing staffing levels (The Conference Board, 2025). While these efforts aim to streamline operations, the impact on employees, specifically among Millennials and Generation Z, is underexplored. As these cohorts become a growing portion of the federal workforce, their concerns about job security and career advancement highlight the need to understand how perceptions of downsizing influence their work engagement and job satisfaction.

This quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study examined the relationship between organizational downsizing perceptions, work engagement, and job satisfaction among Millennial and Generation Z employees in the federal government while analyzing the mediating role of organizational trust. Participants included full-time federal employees born between 1981 and 2012, recruited through Prolific, CloudResearch, LinkedIn, Facebook, and direct messages. Data was collected via Qualtrics using four validated instruments. A final sample of 392 participant responses were collected, exceeding the minimum requirement of 384 following Raosoft guidelines (Raosoft, Inc., 2004).

Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and mediation analysis. Additionally, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to examine generational differences in outcomes related to organizational downsizing. The results indicated that perceptions of organizational downsizing were significantly associated with both work engagement and job satisfaction. Organizational trust was found to mediate the relationship between perceptions of downsizing and employee outcomes. Also, Millennials and Generation Z shared similar views. This study provides insights for policymakers and federal agency leaders seeking to enhance employee retention, engagement, and job satisfaction during periods of workforce restructuring while emphasizing the importance of organizational trust in navigating workforce reductions. The findings contribute to the limited literature on how downsizing affects Millennials and Generation Z employees within the federal workforce and support strategies aimed at sustaining a motivated and resilient public service workforce.

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Available for download on Wednesday, March 31, 2027

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