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.