Based on a qualitative study of four organisations involving 47 respondents following the extensive 2010 – 2011 earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, this paper presents some guidance for human resource practitioners dealing with post-disaster recovery. A key issue is the need for the human resource function to reframe its practices in a post-disaster context, developing a specific focus on understanding and addressing changing employee needs, and monitoring the leadership behaviour of supervisors. This article highlights the importance of flexible organisational responses based around a set of key principles concerning communication and employee perceptions of company support.
Disasters are rare events with major consequences; yet comparatively little is known about managing employee needs in disaster situations. Based on case studies of four organisations following the devastating earthquakes of 2010 - 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand, this paper presents a framework using redefined notions of employee needs and expectations, and charting the ways in which these influence organisational recovery and performance. Analysis of in-depth interview data from 47 respondents in four organisations highlighted the evolving nature of employee needs and the crucial role of middle management leadership in mitigating the effects of disasters. The findings have counterintuitive implications for human resource functions in a disaster, suggesting that organisational justice forms a central framework for managing organisational responses to support and engage employees for promoting business recovery.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22- IMG_4088 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4082 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4046 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_3965 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_3949 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_3961 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_3970 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013-02-22-River-of-FlowersDSC_03413.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4038 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4077 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4036 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. Horseshoe Lake, Christchurch. File reference: CCL-2013-02-22-River-of-FlowersDSC_03402.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22- IMG_4081 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4043 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22- IMG_4045 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4085 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4072 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4041 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4061 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22- IMG_4037 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_3960 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_3985 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4009 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Christchurch Central City - 29 September 2013 File reference: CCL-2013-09-29-Lost-in-Central-City-DSC_0958.JPG Photo by Valerie Livingstone.
Friday 22 February 2013. Flowers in road cones on corner of Hercules and Sabina Streets, Shirley, Christchurch. File reference: CCL-2013-02-22-River-of-FlowersDSC_03416.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013-02-22-River-of-FlowersDSC_03412.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013-02-22-River-of-FlowersDSC_03405.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4086 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.