Abstract

This paper examines stigma management strategies at the individual, organizational, and industry levels in the Australian coal industry. It discusses how the strategies differ and interact while exploring their commonality, uniqueness, cross-level influences, effectiveness, and influence on actor perceptions. Employing a qualitative methodology, this research utilized 61 semi-structured interviews with employees in the coal industry that provided rich insights into stigma dynamics. Thematic analysis revealed integrated strategies that enhance cohesion, novel practices unique to each level, and bidirectional cross-level influence mechanisms. Findings indicate that the more adaptable strategies are to context-specific stigma challenges, the more coordinated efforts prove to be. However, sustaining perceptual shifts and addressing evolving contexts are challenges. This study points out theoretical and practical implications of cross-level coordination in stigma management, which bridges gaps left by prior research and encourages further investigation across diverse industries and mixed methods to increase understanding.