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COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Occupational Safety and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 39779

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. R. Todd Niemeier

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Guest Editor

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
Interests: COVID-19; exposure science; occupational exposures; dermal exposures; acute exposures; metals; emergency response

Dr. Lauralynn McKernan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
Interests: diacetyl and flavoring sampling methods; occupational exposure banding; exposure assessment techniques; emergency preparedness procedures and processes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide impacts in many workplaces, affecting both workers and businesses. This Special Issue will provide a collection of papers focused on 1) epidemiological and field research; 2) perspectives on future research and the lessons learned related to the pandemic; 3) evaluations of programmatic and communication products; and 4) literature reviews exploring the effect of the pandemic across a wide range of occupational settings. Specifically, this Special Issue will provide several important perspectives of methodologies to rapidly evaluate the impacts of the pandemic from an occupational perspective. Additionally this Special Issue will include a discussion of economic and epidemiological analyses of different work populations, summarize outcomes related to people who work in settings that put them at higher risk of becoming infected or exposed to hazards, scientific research gaps related to the pandemic, and the importance of work as a social determinant of health. As we reflect on the lessons learned in order to better prepare for the future phases of this pandemic, as well as plan for future pandemics, the contributions of this research to the scientific literature are essential.

Potential topics include but are not limited to:

The efficacy of engineering controls in occupational settings;

The development of critical tools to manage personal protective equipment in healthcare settings;

The results of worker and employer evaluations of COVID-19 communication products;

The lessons learned from a disaster science research program to rapidly evaluate the occupational literature and guide research agenda development;

The social and economic impacts of occupational safety and health pertaining to COVID-19;

Occupational violence related to COVID-19 mandates and policies;

Workplace-related mental health outcomes in multiple industries related to the COVID-19 pandemic;

Estimation of COVID-19-related deaths of health care workers in the early part of the pandemic (March-April 2020);

Perspectives and epidemiology of the impact of the pandemic on people who work in settings that put them at increased/higher risk of becoming infected or exposed to hazards;

An evaluation of extramurally funded centers to provide pandemic worker health and safety.

Dr. R. Todd Niemeier
Dr. Lauralynn McKernan
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

COVID-19
occupational exposures
epidemiology
rapid review
mental health outcomes
occupational violence
healthcare worker deaths
personal protective equipment
controls

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Published Papers (13 papers)

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13 pages, 1300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

COVID-19 Workplace Mitigation Strategies and Employee Leave Policies Implemented during the Height of the Pandemic, United States, Fall 2020 and 2021

by Rebecca J. Guerin, John P. Barile, Matthew R. Groenewold, Hannah L. Free and Andrea H. Okun

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 2894; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042894 - 7 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2378

Abstract

COVID-19 workplace mitigation strategies implemented within US businesses have been effective at preventing disease and protecting workers, but the extent of their use is not well understood. We examined reported COVID-19 workplace mitigation strategies by business size, geographic region, and industry using internet panel survey data from US adult respondents working full- or part-time outside the home (fall 2020, N = 1168) andfull- or part-time, inside or outside the home (fall 2021, N = 1778). We used chi-square tests to assess the differences in the strategies used (e.g., masking and COVID-19 screening) and ANOVA tests to examine the group differences on a mitigation strategies summative score. Fewer COVID-19 mitigation strategies were reported by respondents in fall 2021 (compared to fall 2020) across businesses of different sizes and regions. The participants in microbusinesses (1–10 employees) reported significantly (p < 0.05) lower mitigation scores than all other business sizes, and the respondents in these businesses were significantly less likely (p < 0.05) to have paid leave than those in enterprises with >10 employees. The healthcare and education sectors had the highest reported mean score of COVID-19 workplace mitigation strategies. Small and essential businesses are critical to the US economy. Insight is needed on their use of mitigation strategies to protect workers during the current and future pandemics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

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11 pages, 828 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Psychological Distress among University Staff before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Takaki Tanifuji, Kentaro Mouri, Yasuji Yamamoto and Shinsuke Aoyama

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2208; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032208 - 26 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1920

Abstract

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has distressed many populations worldwide, and since its beginning, many institutes have performed cross-sectional studies to assess mental health. We longitudinally examined psychological distress and depressive symptoms among university staff in Japan from 2019 to 2021, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.; (2) Methods: Participants were teachers and hospital staff working at institutions related to Kobe University, who completed the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) from 2019 to 2021. This study used the definition recommended by the guideline to identify high-stress. We analyzed the relationship between those who identified as having high-stress before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic using logistic regression analysis (adjusted for age, sex, and occupation).; (3) Results: Results showed that Stress Reaction scores increased slightly in 2020 and significantly in 2021. Time and other factors had a synergistic effect on mental health. The increase in Stress Reaction was significantly associated with females and nurses over the three years. Those with high-stress in 2019 had approximately twenty-fold odds ratios (OR) of having high-stress in 2020 and 2021.; (4) Conclusions: The long-term COVID-19 pandemic may disturb university staff’s mental health. Those who originally experienced high levels of stress were vulnerable to the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

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8 pages, 308 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Work: A Social Determinant of Health Worth Capturing

by Karla Armenti, Marie H. Sweeney, Cailyn Lingwall and Liu Yang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1199; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021199 - 10 Jan 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4672

Abstract

Work is a recognized social determinant of health. This became most apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers, particularly those in certain industries and occupations, were at risk due to interaction with the public and close proximity to co-workers. The purpose of this study was to assess how states collected work and employment data on COVID-19 cases, characterizing the need for systematic collection of case-based specific work and employment data, including industry and occupation, of COVID-19 cases. A survey was distributed among state occupational health contacts and epidemiologists in all 50 states to assess current practices in state public health surveillance systems. Twenty-seven states collected some kind of work and employment information from COVID-19 cases. Most states (93%) collected industry and/or occupation information. More than half used text-only fields, a predefined reference or dropdown list, or both. Use of work and employment data included identifying high risk populations, prioritizing vaccination efforts, and assisting with reopening plans. Reported barriers to collecting industry and occupation data were lack of staffing, technology issues, and funding. Scientific understanding of work-related COVID-19 risk requires the systematic, case-based collection of specific work and employment data, including industry and occupation. While this alone does not necessarily indicate a clear workplace exposure, collection of these data elements can help to determine and further prevent workplace outbreaks, thereby ensuring the viability of the nation’s critical infrastructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

17 pages, 632 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Workplace Determinants of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in U.S. Mariners during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Ahmad H. Yassin, June T. Spector, Luke Mease, Alice Shumate, Ryan Hill, Jennifer E. Lincoln and Marissa G. Baker

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16628; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416628 - 10 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2240

Abstract

United States (U.S.) mariners continued sailing throughout COVID-19. Many aspects of their work could make them prone to adverse mental health outcomes but research on workplace determinants of their mental health during COVID-19 is limited. Between January and July 2021 an online survey assessed the outcomes of increased depressive symptoms, increased anxiety symptoms, and increased perceived stress in addition to concerns, worries, and experiences when sailing during COVID-19, job satisfaction, and safety climate in n = 1384 U.S. mariners. Demographic measures were also collected. Logistic regression models (for depression and anxiety) and a linear regression model (for stress) were developed. We found that increased COVID-19 concerns and poor self-reported mental health were related to increased odds of likely depression and anxiety and higher stress. Mariners who experienced more adverse experiences aboard a vessel had increased stress and increased odds of depression. Poor sleep quality was also related to increased odds of depression, and poor vessel support/safety culture was related to higher stress. Differences in outcomes were seen by vessel type, age, and credential in regression analyses. Results from this study will help to prioritize interventions to minimize the mental health impacts of COVID-19, and influence evidence-based recommendations to improve the mental health of mariners going forward. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

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14 pages, 922 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Application of Risk–Risk Tradeoffs in Occupational Health: Nurses’ Occupational Asthma and Infection Risk Perceptions Related to Cleaning and Disinfection during COVID-19

by Amanda M. Wilson, Irene Mussio, Susan Chilton, Lynn B. Gerald, Rachael M. Jones, Frank A. Drews, Judy S. LaKind and Paloma I. Beamer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 16092; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316092 - 1 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2620

Abstract

Background: Nurses face the risk of new onset occupational asthma (OA) due to exposures to cleaning and disinfection (C&D) agents used to prevent infections in healthcare facilities. The objective of this study was to measure nurses’ preferences when presented with simultaneous OA and respiratory viral infection (e.g., COVID-19) risks related to increased/decreased C&D activities. Methods: Nurses working in healthcare for ≥1 year and without physician-diagnosed asthma were recruited for an online anonymous survey, including four risk–risk tradeoff scenarios between OA and respiratory infection with subsequent recovery (Infect and Recovery) or subsequent death (Infect and Death). Nurses were presented with baseline risks at hypothetical “Hospital 1”, and were asked to choose Hospital 2 (increased OA risk to maintain infection risk), Hospital 3 (increased infection risk to maintain OA risk), or indicate that they were equally happy. Results: Over 70% of nurses were willing to increase infection risk to maintain baseline OA risk if they were confident they would recover from the infection. However, even when the risk of infection leading to death was much lower than OA, most nurses were not willing to accept a larger (but still small) risk of death to avoid doubling their OA risk. Age, work experience, and ever having contracted or knowing anyone who has contracted a respiratory viral infection at work influenced choices. Conclusions: We demonstrate the novel application of a risk–risk tradeoff framework to address an occupational health issue. However, more data are needed to test the generalizability of the risk preferences found in this specific risk–risk tradeoff context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

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14 pages, 1132 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Occurrences of Workplace Violence Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic, United States, March 2020 to August 2021

by Suzanne M. Marsh, Carissa M. Rocheleau, Eric G. Carbone, Daniel Hartley, Audrey A. Reichard and Hope M. Tiesman

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 14387; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114387 - 3 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2292

Abstract

As businesses dealt with an increasingly anxious public during the COVID-19 pandemic and were frequently tasked with enforcing various COVID-19 prevention policies such as mask mandates, workplace violence and harassment (WPV) emerged as an increasing important issue affecting worker safety and health. Publicly available media reports were searched for WPV events related to the COVID-19 pandemic that occurred during 1 March 2020, and 31 August 2021, using Google News aggregator services scans with data abstraction and verification. The search found 408 unique WPV events related to COVID-19. Almost two-thirds involved mask disputes. Over half (57%) of the 408 events occurred in retail (38%) and food service (19%). We also conducted a comparison of events identified in this search to a similar study of media reports between March 2020 to October 2020 that used multiple search engines to identify WPV events. Despite similar conclusions, a one-to-one comparison of relevant data from these studies found only modest overlap in the incidents identified, suggesting the need to make improvements to future efforts to extract data from media reports. Prevention resources such as training and education for workers may help industries de-escalate or prevent similar WPV events in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

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11 pages, 648 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Workplace Mistreatment and Health Conditions Prior and during the COVID-19 in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Nataliya Nerobkova, Soo Young Kim, Eun-Cheol Park and Jaeyong Shin

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 12992; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192012992 - 11 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1959

Abstract

Background: This study examined the relationship between workplace mistreatment, including discrimination, abuse, and overworking, and health problems among full-time workers prior to and during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in South Korea. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2017 and 2020–2021 Korean Working Conditions Surveys, including the final sample of 44,425 participants. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between workplace mistreatment and health problems among workers by gender. Interaction analysis was conducted to establish the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and health problems related to mistreatment. The occupational, demographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds were adjusted. Results: We found a significant association between workplace mistreatment and health problems, including headaches, eyestrain, and anxiety. The association increased after the COVID-19 pandemic: “discrimination” (men (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.93–2.65), women (OR 2.73, 95% CI 2.36–3.17)); abuse (men (OR 5.42, 95% CI 2.87–10.23), women (OR 4.70, 95% CI 3.12–7.08)); and overworking: men (OR 2.36, 95% CI 2.01–2.77), women (OR 3.52, 95% CI 2.68–4.61). The interaction indicates an increased incidence of people having health problems due to workplace mistreatment (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00–1.06) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Statistically, employees who experience workplace mistreatment have worse health conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the job environment and increased the association between workplace mistreatment and health problems. To eliminate the health problems related to workplace mistreatment, it is necessary to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on work and employee health conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

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13 pages, 333 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Search of a Value Proposition for COVID-19 Testing in the Work Environment: A Social Marketing Analysis

by Claudia Parvanta, Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, Naciely Cabral, Cynthia K. Ball, Kevin G. Moore, Adrienne Eastlake, Jeffrey L. Levin, Dalia E. Nessim, Matthew S. Thiese and Paul A. Schulte

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12496; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912496 - 30 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1936

Abstract

Background: This study examined employer experience with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) asymptomatic testing through a social marketing lens. Social marketing uses commercial marketing principles to achieve socially beneficial ends including improved health and safety behavior. Method: Twenty employers across 11 occupational sectors were interviewed about implementation of COVID-19 testing from January through April 2021. Recorded transcripts were coded and analyzed using marketing’s “Four P’s”: “product,” “price,” “place,” “promotion.” Results: COVID-19 tests (product) were uncomfortable, were easily confused, and didn’t solve problems articulated by employers. Testing was not widely available or didn’t line up with shifts or locations (place). The perceived price, which included direct and associated costs (e.g., laboratory fees, productivity loss, logistical challenges) was high. Most crucially, the time to receive (PCR) results negated the major benefit of less time spent in quarantine and challenged employer trust. A potential audience segmentation strategy based on perceptions of exposure risk also emerged. Conclusions: This social marketing analysis suggests ways to improve the value proposition for asymptomatic testing through changes in product, price, and placement features in line with employers’ expressed needs. Study findings can also inform creation of employee communication materials that balance perceived rewards of testing against perceived risks of exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

12 pages, 334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Barriers to SARS-CoV-2 Testing among U.S. Employers in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Analysis Conducted January through April 2021

by Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, Claudia Parvanta, Naciely Cabral, Cynthia K. Ball, Adrienne Eastlake, Jeffrey L. Levin, Kevin Moore, Dalia Nessim, Ernie Stracener, Matthew S. Thiese and Paul A. Schulte

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11805; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811805 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1827

Abstract

During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. companies were seeking ways to support their employees to return to the workplace. Nonetheless, the development of strategies to support the access, use, and interpretation of SARS-CoV-2 testing was challenging. In the present study, we explore, from the perspective of owners and company leadership, the barriers to SARS-CoV-2 testing among U.S. companies. Key informant interviews with company representatives were conducted during January–April 2021 about SARS-CoV-2 testing. A pre-interview survey assessed respondent socio-demographic and organizational characteristics. Interview sessions were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using MaxQDA. A total of twenty interviews were completed with at least two interviews conducted in each major U.S. industry sector. Ninety percent of participants represented companies in business >10 years, comprising both small and large workforces. Using a grounded theory approach, six themes emerged: (1) access to and knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 tests; (2) strategies for symptomatic and asymptomatic testing of workers; (3) type/availability of personal protective equipment to mitigate coronavirus exposures; (4) return-to-work policies; (5) guidance and communication of SARS-CoV-2 Testing; and (6) use of contact tracing and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Various modifiable and non-modifiable challenges for SARS-CoV-2 testing among U.S. companies were identified and can inform work-related SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

15 pages, 774 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Working from Home on Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study of Canadian Worker’s Mental Health during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Aidan Bodner, Leo Ruhl, Emily Barr, Arti Shridhar, Shayna Skakoon-Sparling and Kiffer George Card

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11588; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811588 - 14 Sep 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 9196

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a considerable expansion in the way work settings are structured, with a continuum emerging between working fully in-person and from home. The pandemic has also exacerbated many risk factors for poor mental health in the workplace, especially in public-facing jobs. Therefore, we sought to test the potential relationship between work setting and self-rated mental health. To do so, we modeled the association of work setting (only working from home, only in-person, hybrid) on self-rated mental health (Excellent/Very Good/Good vs. Fair/Poor) in an online survey of Canadian workers during the third wave of COVID-19. The mediating effects of vaccination, masking, and distancing were explored due to the potential effect of COVID-19-related stress on mental health among those working in-person. Among 1576 workers, most reported hybrid work (77.2%). Most also reported good self-rated mental health (80.7%). Exclusive work from home (aOR: 2.79, 95%CI: 1.90, 4.07) and exclusive in-person work (aOR: 2.79, 95%CI: 1.83, 4.26) were associated with poorer self-rated mental health than hybrid work. Vaccine status mediated only a small proportion of this relationship (7%), while masking and physical distancing were not mediators. We conclude that hybrid work arrangements were associated with positive self-rated mental health. Compliance with vaccination, masking, and distancing recommendations did not meaningfully mediate this relationship. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

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17 pages, 890 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Uncertainty and Well-Being amongst Homeworkers in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study of University Staff

by Stephen Wood, George Michaelides, Kevin Daniels and Karen Niven

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10435; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610435 - 22 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2110

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened uncertainties in people’s lives—and was itself a source of fresh uncertainty. We report a study of homeworkers on whether such uncertainties, and particularly those related to their work environment, are associated with lower levels of well-being and whether this association is exacerbated by prior poor well-being. We focus on five uncertainties surrounding the pandemic and employment—the virus, the job quality, workload, logistics of work lives, and support from the employer. Our empirical tests show that uncertainties around the virus, employer support, and their job quality have the strongest negative associations with well-being. These are based on data collected over three time periods in the first year of the pandemic from a sample of university staff (academics and non-academics) and well-being is measured on two continua, anxiety–contentment and depression–enthusiasm. The effects of uncertainties around workload and logistics are less pronounced, but more apparent among employees with better (not poorer) past well-being, at various times of the recession. The study adds to our understanding of the pandemic and highlights the need to link uncertainty to mental health more than it has in the past. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

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11 pages, 331 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Worker Perspectives on COVID-19 Risks: A Qualitative Study of Latino Construction Workers in Oakland, California

by Erika Meza, Leslie Giglio, Ana O. Franco, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Laura Stock, John Balmes, Jacqueline M. Torres and Alicia Fernandez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9822; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169822 - 9 Aug 2022

Viewed by 1716

Abstract

Latino construction workers in the U.S. have faced a disproportionate risk for COVID-19 infection in the workplace. Prior studies have focused on quantifying workplace risk for COVID-19 infection; few have captured workers’ experiences and perspectives. This study describes COVID-19-related workplace risks from the perspectives of Latino construction workers. We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured phone interviews with Latino construction workers from the Fruitvale District of Oakland, California. Twenty individuals were interviewed from December 2020 to March 2021. Nearly all participants (19/20) were Spanish-speaking men; mean age 42.6 years. The majority were low-income and over one-third did not have health insurance. Participants worked in varied construction-related jobs ranging from demolition to office work; additionally, four were day laborers, and three belonged to a labor union. We identified four major themes with public health policy and workplace safety implications: (1) Major concern about the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection for family health and economic wellbeing; (2) Clarity about mask use and social distancing but not disclosure; (3) Variability in access to additional resources provided by employers; and (4) Uncertainty around structural support for SARS-CoV-2 quarantine/isolation. Our findings provide further evidence from workers’ own perspectives of the major gaps experienced during the pandemic in workplace protections and resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

17 pages, 697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Paradoxical Effects of COVID-19 Event Strength on Employee Turnover Intention

by Hui Deng, Wenbing Wu, Yihua Zhang, Xiaoyan Zhang and Jing Ni

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8434; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148434 - 10 Jul 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3412

Abstract

As a global pandemic, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has brought enormous challenges to employees and organizations. Although numerous existing studies have highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic is a stressful event and empirically proved its detrimental effect on employee turnover intention, few scholars have noted that this pandemic can deteriorate the external economic and employment environment simultaneously, which may further complicate employees’ intentions to leave or stay in the current organization. Drawing on event system theory and social cognitive theory, this study aims to uncover two potential cognitive mechanisms of the complex impact of COVID-19 event strength on employee turnover intention. To examine the proposed model, this study employed a three-wave and time-lagged research design and collected data from a sample of 432 employees of four Chinese companies from different industries. The findings indicated that COVID-19 event strength was negatively related to perceived external employability, and ultimately curbed employee turnover intention. Yet, COVID-19 event strength also negatively predicted perceived organizational growth, thus influencing employees to exhibit intentions to quit. Moreover, organizational identification not only attenuated the positive effect of perceived external employability on turnover intention but also amplified the negative impact of perceived organizational growth on turnover intention. Further, organizational identification moderated the indirect effects of COVID-19 event strength on turnover intention through perceived external employability and perceived organizational growth. This study provided a comprehensive insight into scholars’ understanding of the COVID-19 downstream outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned)

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