gms | German Medical Science

Background: Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been an ongoing discussion on how to maintain economic as well as public life in the best possible way. As of yet, there has been little research aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding in which ways companies deal with their working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aims and objectives: This study investigates how companies assess the implementation of new infection control measures and how this may affect psychosocial demands across different workplace settings.

Methods: In collaboration with the occupational health service of a leading international technology and service company, an explorative mixed-methods approach was developed which is transferable to other settings [1]. Depending on the respective resources of the participating companies, the modular study design allows for the implementation of up to four sub-studies whereby a cross-sectional or longitudinal approach is possible:

1.

document analysis of prevailing laws and company-specific regulations,

2.

qualitative interviews with key actors of the participating companies,

3.

standardized employee surveys, and

4.

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence testing.

Data analysis comprises qualitative (document and content analysis) and quantitative approaches (descriptive & inferential statistics).

Results: Data collection has started in August 2020 currently comprising two employee surveys (Sept/Oct 2020: n=2425; Jan 2021: n=2517) and the first wave of qualitative interviews (Oct 2020: n=8). Initial results from one company provide some evidence for differing attitudes and experiences of employees regarding infection control measures across different workplace settings. There is, however, little difference in the evaluation of work-related psychosocial demands before and during the pandemic. Interview partners reported an overall high acceptance of the measures taken. At the same time, they experienced discussions with employees about the pandemic itself whereby infection control measures were characterised as “intense” or “exhausting”.

Discussion: Our results indicate that the occupational health culture of the company investigated is facilitated by financial, structural and health-oriented managerial resources which are likely to differ across other companies. This will be investigated further over the course of this study.

Practical implications: We expect the results to facilitate the effort of companies to protect the physical and mental health of their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The infection control measures currently implemented are expected to contribute to problem-focused coping of future challenges such as the next wave of influenza.

Appeal to science and practice: Close collaboration between academia and practice in developing an adapted version of the study design is important for target group specificity in different companies and workplace settings.