Rewards under crisis. Lessons from the russian? Ukrainian war

Abstract Purpose: Extremely turbulent conditions force organizations to reconsider the strategic value of their human resource management practices. This paper analyses how an Ukrainian organization redefines its reward system during the Russian-Ukrainian War and observes how extreme turbulence alters the reward hierarchy and employee motivation mechanisms. The objective is to understand how companies adapt reward mixes to maintain motivation and ensure operational continuity in the event of external shocks. Design/methodology/approach: Using a case study, qualitative and quantitative data were collected through interviews addressed to three strategic decision makers (a human resources manager, an external strategic consultant, and an employee representative). Applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), we analysed the weights assigned to three reward categories (economic, non-economic and social) and nine specific reward alternatives. Results: The results provide a clear picture of how different types of rewards are prioritised. The findings highlight how economic rewards take top priority in conditions of extreme instability; social rewards follow, while non-economic rewards appear less relevant in the short term. Social rewards nonetheless maintain a complementary role, contributing to cohesion and morale. Originality/value: Through case studies and both in person and remote interviews , the study offers a grounded perspective on human resource management practices in war context