The impact of natural disaster on absenteeism, job satisfaction, and job performance of survival employees: An empirical study of the survivors in Wenchuan Earthquake

Abstract

Natural disasters cause serious damage to businesses in the stricken areas and greatly affect survivors' psychology and behaviors. Based on data from 206 survival employees in 33 affected firms in Wenchuan Earthquake, this study analyzes the impact of natural disaster on absenteeism, job satisfaction, and job performance of survival employees. Results indicate that after the earthquake, survival employees' absenteeism and job satisfaction (including intrinsic, extrinsic, and general job satisfaction) decrease significantly, but their task performance, contextual performance, and overall job performance improve significantly. Employees' learning and innovative performance have no significant change in comparison with that before the earthquake. The authors thus suggest that the affected businesses need to communicate with the survival employees actively, focus more on job security, compensation and working conditions, in order to maintain these employees' job satisfaction. In addition, enterprises outside the affected areas should give priority to the recruitment of the survival employees given the same conditions, because it is beneficial to both the employing enterprises and the reconstruction of affected areas. 220 Xin Qin, Yuexin Jiang

Job security and the promotion of workers’ wellbeing in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: A study with Canadian workers one to two weeks after the initiation of social distancing measures

“…Job security refers to "employee's expectations about the stability and longevity of their job in an organization" (Lu et al, 2017, p. 30). Research shows that natural disasters and public health crises impose negative economic impacts (Qin & Jiang, 2011;Mastroianni, 2009). Following the Wenchaun Earthquake in China, private enterprises suffered major economic damage (Qin & Jiang, 2011).…”

“…Research shows that natural disasters and public health crises impose negative economic impacts (Qin & Jiang, 2011;Mastroianni, 2009). Following the Wenchaun Earthquake in China, private enterprises suffered major economic damage (Qin & Jiang, 2011). Data from survivors of the earthquake revealed that their sense of job insecurity significantly increased (Qin & Jiang, 2011).…”

“…Following the Wenchaun Earthquake in China, private enterprises suffered major economic damage (Qin & Jiang, 2011). Data from survivors of the earthquake revealed that their sense of job insecurity significantly increased (Qin & Jiang, 2011). During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) crisis, workers in Toronto suffered economic costs associated with social isolation measures (i.e., quarantine), including layoffs and loss of income (Gupta et al, 2005).…”

“…Job insecurity negatively affects wellbeing because of financial instability and the threat to many social benefits derived from work (e.g., social status, social network) (Fullerton, McCollum, Dixon, & Freeman, 2020;Jahoda, 1982;Selenko & Batnic, 2013). Job insecurity may also lead to increased dissatisfaction with work as well as absenteeism (Qin & Jiang, 2011).…”

A systematic mapping review of factors associated with willingness to work under emergency condition

“…According to the report from hospitals and public health centers, a substantial percentage of personnel’s absence occurs during incidents like pandemics and terrorist cases such as chemical, biological and nuclear incidents [ 4 , 6 ]. Also, some literature indicated that after natural disasters absenteeism and job satisfaction significantly have decreased [ 7 ].…”