A Natural Virucidal and Microbicidal Spray Based on Polyphenol-Iron Sols.

Numerous disinfection methods have been developed to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases that threaten human health. However, it still remains elusively challenging to develop eco-friendly and cost-effective methods that deactivate a wide range of pathogens, from viruses to bacteria and fungi, without doing any harm to humans or the environment. Herein we report a natural spraying protocol, based on a water-dispersible supramolecular sol of nature-derived tannic acid (TA) and Fe3+, which is easy-to-use and low-cost. Our formulation effectively deactivates viruses (influenza A viruses, SARS-CoV-2, and human rhinovirus) as well as suppressing the growth and spread of pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter baumannii) and fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus and Trichophyton rubrum). Its versatile applicability in a real-life setting is also demonstrated against microorganisms present on the surfaces of common household items (e.g., air filter membranes, disposable face masks, kitchen sinks, mobile phones, refrigerators, and toilet seats).

Impacts of customer incivility and abusive supervision on employee performance: a comparative study of the pre- and post-COVID-19 periods

The purpose of our study was to assess the effects of customer incivility and abusive supervision on employee performance during the pre- and post-COVID-19 periods. Our two-wave panel data collected from South Korean frontline service employees revealed that the indirect effect of customer incivility on job performance through emotional exhaustion became more pronounced after the onset of the pandemic. Furthermore, during the pandemic, customer incivility exerted a greater indirect effect on job performance through emotional exhaustion than abusive supervision. These findings offer insights for effectively managing frontline service employees’ stress in times of crisis, including pandemics.

Emotional exhaustion among the South Korean workforce before and after COVID-19.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea in January 2020, many South Korean employees have been experiencing work stressors, threats of job insecurity, and feelings of isolation, which together lead to emotional exhaustion. The present study aimed to compare the emotional exhaustion of South Korean employees before and after the pandemic, as well as to examine how the demographic characteristics of employees affected their emotional exhaustion. We administered surveys to 276 employees before the COVID-19 pandemic (from July to October 2019) and 301 employees after its onset (from March to April 2020). A series of t-tests demonstrated that both employee samples were similar demographically. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that even when controlling for baseline emotions, the employees assessed after the COVID-19 experienced significantly higher emotional exhaustion than those assessed before. Furthermore, in reaction to COVID-19, female employees felt more emotionally exhausted than their male counterparts. Finally, after the COVID-19 pandemic, younger and short-tenured employees reported higher emotional exhaustion than older and more experienced employees. These findings provide insight into managing the mental health of employees during the COVID-19 crisis. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The emotional exhaustion of the South Korean workforce increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, female employees experienced a higher level of emotional exhaustion than their male counterparts. After the pandemic, younger and short-tenured employees experienced a higher level of emotional exhaustion than older and long-tenured employees.