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.
A photograph of two women wearing masks on the Worcester Boulevard bridge. The women are carrying FESTA programme guides.
A photograph of two women wearing masks on the Worcester Boulevard bridge. The women are carrying FESTA programme guides.
A photograph of an artwork on the side of a damaged building, part of the Christchurch Art Gallery's "Outer Spaces" programme.
A photograph of a FESTA volunteer wearing a mask and holding a stack of FESTA programmes to hand out to visitors.
A photograph of a FESTA volunteer in a red mask and cape. The volunteer is holding a stack of FESTA programmes to hand out to visitors.
A photograph of a FESTA volunteer wearing a mask in the shape of a building. The volunteer has a stack of FESTA programmes to hand out to visitors.
A photograph of a masked volunteer during the Canterbury Tales procession. The volunteer is holding FESTA 2013 programmes to give out to visitors. Canterbury Tales was created by Free Theatre Christchurch, and was the main event of FESTA 2013.