Conceptualizing and measuring employee crisis readiness

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine two key aspects of employee crisis readiness: defining what employee crisis readiness entails and determining how to measure it. Design/methodology/approach We developed a measurement scale that involved expert audits and online surveys with full-time employees in the USA. Findings After discovering a valid and reliable measurement, we found a significant association between effective crisis management leadership and employee crisis readiness, along with a strong connection between individual and perceived collaborative crisis readiness in the workplace. Furthermore, to assess the nomological validity based on existing literature, the proposed scale was evaluated for its relationship with collaborative readiness and leadership in crisis management, given the crucial roles that leadership and collaboration play in employee crisis readiness. Originality/value This study develops a scale to measure employee crisis readiness. The scale also assesses the effectiveness of crisis management leadership and collaborative readiness among teams and colleagues in the workplace.