Employee Job Satisfaction and Performance in Association With Workplace Responses to the 9/11 Attacks on New York City's World Trade Center

Objective: Research is needed on disaster-affected workplaces, particularly on employee job satisfaction and performance, to inform workplace responses promoting employee postdisaster adjustment and wellbeing. Methods: Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a volunteer sample of 255 employees of eight workplaces affected by the 9/11 attacks on New York City's World Trade Center nearly 3 years post disaster. Results: The effects of 9/11 on both job satisfaction and job performance were more negative than positive, especially for the Ground Zero employees. Effects on job satisfaction and job performance were generally congruent. Workplace responses focused on individual needs were perceived as positive and those focused on workplace needs as negative. Conclusions: Workplace responses focused on business improvement intended to improve workplace performance may not have the desired effect and may reduce employee job satisfaction and performance.

Automated summary

This study aims to explore disaster-affected workplaces, particularly the job satisfaction and performance of employees, in order to provide insights for workplace responses that promote employee adjustment and well-being post-disaster. The results show that the effects of 9/11 on job satisfaction and performance were predominantly negative, especially for the employees at Ground Zero. Workplace responses focused on individual needs were perceived positively, while those focused on workplace needs were seen negatively.