A photograph of a Downer employee working from a shipping container.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Vik Manuge, former Press employee, stalking the earthquake ruins".
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.
Survivors are gathering in Christchurch today to remember those who died in the devastating Christchurch earthquake of 2011. Of the 185 people who were killed, 115 died when the CTV building collapsed. Former CTV employee Tom Hawker watched his workplace collapse in front of him. He speaks to Susie Ferguson.
Fulton Hogan employees examining a large crack in the middle of a road in Avonside after the September 4th earthquake.
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.
Some Canterbury business owners say their employee's jobs are still in serious jeopardy, despite the Government extending its wage subsidy for another month.
The aim of this study is to explore the main contributors and obstacles to employee learning in the context of an alliance using the framework of a complex embedded multiple-case study. The two participant alliance partner organisations (APOs) are natural competitors that have joined to respond to urgent community needs of the city of Christchurch following the major earthquakes in September 2010 and February 2011. At the moment of the in-depth interviews, it had been about four years since those events occurred. There are continuous, unexpected circumstances that still require attention. However, the alliance has an expiry date, thus reinforcing the uncertain work environment. The main enablers found were participative, collaborative learning encouraged by leaders who embraced the alliance’s “learning organisational culture”. Employees generated innovations mostly in social interaction with others, while taking on responsibility for their learning by learning from mistakes. The main obstacle found is competition, as inhibitor of collaboratively sharing their knowledge out of fear of losing their competitiveness.
A photograph of Treetech employees working to fell trees along the Avon River. Many trees suffered damage during the earthquake and were in danger of falling.
A video of a tour of Lion Nathan's Canterbury Brewery, where employees are cleaning up after the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The video shows footage of Lion Nathan employees clearing away pallets of broken bottles and mopping up spilt beer. It also includes an interview with Neil Hinton, Lion Nathan Corporate Affairs Director, about the beer which has been sent down from Auckland, and the help they are giving to the City Mission.
A blog by an ex-employee of the Earthquake Commission discussing flaws in its handling of insurance claims made as the result of the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
A study of employees affected by the Canterbury earthquakes has found they're more likely to have jobs - and get better pay - than people in similar roles in other parts of the country.
A branch newsletter issued by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU in August 2013.
A branch newsletter issued by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU in July 2011.
A branch newsletter issued by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU in September 2010.
A branch newsletter issued by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU in December 2012.
A branch newsletter issued by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU in November 2010.
A branch newsletter issued by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU in September 2014.
A branch newsletter issued by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU in July 2014.
A branch newsletter issued by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU in February 2014.
A branch newsletter issued by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU in April 2013.
Some Christchurch business owners are criticising the government for winding down the earthquake support package. The Government has extended the package, which pays employees of quake effected business a wage subsidy for two more weeks.
For £55, reports The Press in 1909, an Antipodean may travel to London and back via the Cape, and secure a very pleasant holiday. For boarders and employees at Alfred and May Burn’s ‘Silver Grid’ b…
A branch newsletter issued by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU in November 2013. The newsletter is erroneously dated November 2011.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Al Nisbet, cartoonist at The Press, emerges from the rubble that collapsed over the desk he took shelter under as the earthquake hit. The debris is from the floor above that pancaked, killing one Press employee".
Response 66 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 71 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 68 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 8 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.
Response 59 of 90 to a survey of members carried out by the Canterbury Branch of the TEU following the February 2011 earthquake.