In episode 106, we speak with Dr. Hana Johnson, Associate Professor at Washington State University, about her recent research on how disaster from pandemics to wildfires impact employees differently based on social class and identity. Learn how class salience intensifies feelings of devaluation, anxiety, and social withdrawal at work, and why organizations must rethink disaster response policies to support vulnerable workers. This episode explores the psychological toll of inequality, the role of identity in resilience, and what leaders can do to build more inclusive, disaster-ready workplaces.
Find Dr. Johnson here: https://business.wsu.edu/directory/hana.johnson/
Find the paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10869-025-10064-1
