Disaster Management of Human Resources - Workplace Implications for Hurricane Affected Gulf Coast Region Industrial Companies

There is much research in the field of disaster studies, specifically in the areas of disaster response planning, disaster awareness and preparedness and emergency management. However, there are relatively few studies that have examined the employee disaster effects in the workplace from the organization's perspective and that have also addressed how organizations respond to those affects. If the Hurricanes of 2005 did nothing else, they educated the public about the huge dependence on agencies such as FEMA and The Red Cross in regards to aid and rebuilding after disaster. But, what about the reliance of individuals on their individual workplaces and the effects disasters and disaster related employee behavior can have on the workplace? The workplace can surely play a significant role in returning lives to some sense of normalcy and employers must recognize the importance of identifying and dealing with the effects of such disasters on their employees and ultimately on their bottom line. In this research the effects of disasters on employee behavior in the workplace from the organization's perspective and the related post disaster adjustments, allowances and accommodations organizations make as a result of disaster in order to facilitate the work organization and it's employees return to normal functioning and productivity are examined. Organizations, through such disasters as the terrorist attacks of September 11th and the 2005 hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region have seen how disasters can destroy or disrupt businesses as well as the lives of those employed by the business. The potential for business and employee life disruption and loss is great when disasters occur. Organizations cannot ignore the need to respond and adjust in regards to disaster affects on individuals who are employees and how those affects are transferred to the workplace.

The author is a Louisiana native who has extensive professional work experience and university level teaching experience in the field of Human Resource Management. She holds a BA and PhD from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Louisiana Tech University.