Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

11-2020

Abstract

Objective: We study employee perspectives on return to physical workspaces to ultimately inform employers' and policy makers' decision making around the return to work during COVID-19. Methods: We tested the three-component conceptual model using survey data collected in the United States in May 2020 from samples of energy workers (N = 333). Results: Women, non-Caucasians, and employees living in multi-generational households were less willing to return. Concerns about childcare were negatively related to willingness to return, whereas organizational strategies for mitigating COVID-19 transmission at work were positively related to willingness to return. COVID-19 infections in an employees' network were also negatively related to employees' willingness to return. Conclusions: Blanket policies may miss the nuanced needs of different employee groups. Employers and policy makers should adopt flexible approaches to ensure a return to workspaces that addresses employee concerns and needs.

Keywords

COVID-19, energy industry, preventive measure, return to work

Discipline

Human Resources Management | Organizational Behavior and Theory | Public Health

Research Areas

Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources

Publication

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Volume

62

Issue

11

First Page

954

Last Page

958

ISSN

1076-2752

Identifier

10.1097/JOM.0000000000002012

Publisher

Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins

Copyright Owner and License

Publisher

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000002012

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