Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Arts (Industrial Psychology) Johannesburg 1995 / The present research investigates the experience of involuntary job loss in a sample of white-collar workers. In addition, their perceptions of', and attitudes towards a preventive intervention, namely, outplacement, is explored. A review of the current literature on job loss and secondary formal interventions is discussed, which provides the basis for the present study. Findings support previous research, in addition to raising certain issues and providing suggestions which result in an expansion of present knowledge with regard to Outplacement. / MT2017