Closeup on medical mask and hand disinfectant and stressed woman in background in temporary home … [+]
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As the number of coronavirus cases sets new records, the pandemic continues to take a toll on the workforce. According to a new international study, 51 percent of all workers said job satisfaction has been negatively impacted by the disease, while a majority of workers — 60 percent — said that their work has been more difficult during the crisis.
‘The 2020 State of Work Report — Defining a New Normal Amid Covid-19’ was conducted in October 2020 by Skedulo, a deskless productivity software company, and has a margin of error of 2.8 percent.
According to the report, ‘Perhaps the most important, and alarming, way that Covid-19 has impacted the workforce is that for many employees, their jobs put them at direct risk of contracting the disease.’
The study found that 31 percent of deskless workers said they had contracted the coronavirus or had or have a colleague who has contracted the disease as a result of working outside of an office. The report noted that this number ‘is significantly higher than estimates of the general rate of Covid-19 in the population as a whole.’
Other key findings from the study include:
- Thirty-four percent of workers in the field said they were unable to deliver the same level of customer service as they did before the pandemic.
- Both desk-based (38%) and deskless workers (31%) cited working more hours as the main reason why their jobs were more difficult.
- Nearly two-thirds of workers were concerned about returning to work, which increased to 75% for those who were employed by companies that require people to work in their offices.
Matt Fairhurst, Skedulo’s CEO and cofounder said ‘…whether a company has employees in the field or in an office, there are major concerns to address to protect the health of employees. Personal protective equipment, accountability for following safety procedures and contactless technology are all important for organizations to incorporate into their workflow.’
If there was a bright spot in the study it is that 42 percent of workers said they were optimistic about their jobs because of the actions taken by their employers during the crisis. The report noted that the ‘main reasons for optimism include technology investments that make their jobs easier, a positive economic outlook for their industry, and signs their company is recovering and hiring more staff.’
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