Does Telework Mediate the Impact of Occupational Status on Work-to-Family Conflicts? An Investigation of Conditional Effects of Gender and the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study analyzes the effects of gender and occupational status differences on parents' work-to-family conflicts, comparing COVID-19 pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. It is examined whether this association is mediated by parents' telework. Theoretically, we use the work/family border theory and flexible resource versus greedy role perspectives to shed light on the gender- and status-related use of telework and illustrate the influence of flexible working practices on parents' work-to-family conflicts. Using moderated mediation analysis combined with bootstrapping, we analyze data from two waves of the German Family Panel (pairfam), covering pre-pandemic (2017/18, 2019/2020) and pandemic periods (2020) (N = 3,315). Our results show higher work-to-family conflicts for parents with higher occupational status as well as teleworking parents. Furthermore, we find supporting evidence for the mediation from occupational status to work-to-family conflicts via telework, with a slightly stronger relationship among mothers than fathers. Under the consideration of the pandemic, the mediating effect was only provable for mothers but not for fathers. However, the mediating effect of telework does not strengthen under the pandemic conditions. Our findings support the greedy role perspective, in particular for employees with higher-status occupations, and the assumption of a negative influence of work–family integration through telework for work-to-family conflicts.

Socioeconomic differences in the reduction of face-to-face contacts in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to physical distancing measures to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Evidence on contact dynamics in different socioeconomic groups is still sparse. This study aimed to investigate the association of socioeconomic status with private and professional contact reductions in the first COVID-19 wave in Germany. METHODS: Data from two especially affected municipalities were derived from the population-based cross-sectional seroepidemiological CORONA-MONITORING lokal study (data collection May-July 2020). The study sample (n = 3,637) was restricted to working age (18-67 years). We calculated the association of educational and occupational status (low, medium, high) with self-reported private and professional contact reductions with respect to former contact levels in the first wave of the pandemic. Multivariate Poisson regressions were performed to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) adjusted for municipality, age, gender, country of birth, household size, contact levels before physical distancing measures, own infection status, contact to SARS-CoV-2 infected people and working remotely. RESULTS: The analyses showed significant differences in the initial level of private and professional contacts by educational and occupational status. Less private contact reductions with lower educational status (PR low vs. high = 0,79 [CI = 0.68-0.91], p = 0.002; PR medium vs. high = 0,93 [CI = 0.89-0.97], p = 0.001) and less professional contact reductions with lower educational status (PR low vs. high = 0,87 [CI = 0.70-1.07], p = 0.179; PR medium vs. high = 0,89 [CI = 0.83-0.95], p = 0.001) and lower occupational status (PR low vs. high = 0,62 [CI = 0.55-0.71], p < 0.001; PR medium vs. high = 0,82 [CI = 0.77-0.88], p < 0.001) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate disadvantages for groups with lower socioeconomic status in private and professional contact reductions in the first wave of the pandemic. This may be associated with the higher risk of infection among individuals in lower socioeconomic groups. Preventive measures that a) adequately explain the importance of contact restrictions with respect to varying living and working conditions and b) facilitate the implementation of these reductions especially in the occupational setting seem necessary to better protect structurally disadvantaged groups during epidemics.

Tough times at the top: Occupational status predicts changes in job satisfaction in times of crisis.

How do individuals with a higher versus lower occupational status experience major, unexpected changes to their work life? The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted most areas of work life and, thus, provides a unique opportunity to examine changes in work attitudes in response to a worldwide crisis. We predict that individuals with higher, but not with lower occupational status showed a decline in job satisfaction during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany (1st lockdown; March to May 2020), with subsequent recovery to initial job satisfaction levels. Based on role theory and social-psychological theories of hierarchical differentiation, we argue that, due to the profound work-related changes, individuals with higher (vs. lower) occupational status are more negatively affected in realizing their work goals and, thus, experience decreasing levels of job satisfaction. To test these predictions, we investigated trajectories of job satisfaction between December 2019 and August 2020 (7 measurement waves; N = 1583). Results of piece-wise growth curve models showed that individuals with higher occupational status showed a steeper decline in job satisfaction (followed by recovery) over time, whereas individuals with medium and lower occupational status did not experience a significant change in job satisfaction. In addition, we show that the decline in job satisfaction is moderated by perceived constraints at work associated with the pandemic among individuals with higher occupational status. Overall, these findings contribute to our understanding of the link between occupational status and job satisfaction in times of crisis.

Fatigue and Cognitive Dysfunction Are Associated with Occupational Status in Post-COVID Syndrome.

Post-COVID syndrome (PCS) is a medical condition characterized by the persistence of a wide range of symptoms after acute infection by SARS-CoV-2. The work capacity consequences of this disorder have scarcely been studied. We aimed to analyze the factors associated with occupational status in patients with PCS. This cross-sectional study involved 77 patients with PCS on active work before SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients were evaluated 20.71 ± 6.50 months after clinical onset. We conducted a survey on occupational activity and cognitive and clinical symptoms. The association between occupational activity and fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and cognitive testing was analyzed. Thirty-eight (49.4%) patients were working, and thirty-nine (50.6%) patients were not. Of those not working at the moment of the assessment, 36 (92.3%) patients were on sick leave. In 63 patients (81.8% of the sample), sick leave was needed at some point due to PCS. The mean duration of sick leave was 12.07 ± 8.07 months. According to the patient's perspective, the most disabling symptoms were cognitive complaints (46.8%) and fatigue (31.2%). Not working at the moment of the assessment was associated with higher levels of fatigue and lower cognitive performance in the Stroop test. No association was found between occupational status with depression and anxiety questionnaires. Our study found an influence of PCS on work capacity. Fatigue and cognitive issues were the most frequent symptoms associated with loss of work capacity.

Self-reported mental well-being of mothers with young children during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: A mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVES: Mothers of young children have been identified as a particularly vulnerable group during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to explore how occupational, psychosocial and partnership-related factors were associated with their self-reported mental well-being during the first COVID-19 wave. METHODS: Five hundred fifty participants of the BaBi cohort study (est. 2013, Bielefeld, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany) were invited to complete an online survey and to take part in email interviews (April-May 2020). With survey data, we assessed self-reported mental well-being through validated instruments (eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire; short version of the Symptom Checklist) and ran linear regression models for occupational, psychosocial and partnership-related factors. We performed content analysis on the interviews' data to further understand the determinants of the women's mental well-being. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-four women participated in the survey; of which 17 also participated in the interviews. A perceived lack of support in childcare was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, while having a higher internal locus of control was associated with lower levels. Psychological distress was higher in those reporting lack of emotional or childcare support. Interviews confirmed the interplay of potential stressors and highlighted the difficulties to reconcile different expectations of motherhood. DISCUSSION: Occupational, psychosocial and partner-related factors can act (to varying degree) both as resources and stressors to the self-reported mental well-being of mothers of young children. These impacts took different forms and created opportunities or challenges, depending on specific life circumstances, such as work or family situations, relationships and own psychosocial resources. Although not representative, our study contributes to building the COVID-19 evidence base, delineating the mental health toll of the pandemic on mothers of young children and the factors that contribute to it.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF EXISTENTIAL AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS WITH THE TRUST IN GOVERNMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC

The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between people's existential and economic concerns and their trust in the government during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, it is aimed to obtain in-depth information about the direction of government-individual relations during the pandemic, how the policies regarding trust in the government during and after the pandemic are perceived, the relationship between the duties and responsibilities assigned to the government and the existential and economic concerns of individuals. In line with these purposes, the method of the study was determined as the explanatory sequential mixed method. In this framework, firstly, quantitative data collection and analysis process was carried out, and qualitative research was carried out with the results obtained from there. According to quantitative findings;As the trust in the government and its institutions increases, there is a regression in the existential concerns of individuals. On the other hand, it has been determined that there is no relationship between gender and trust in the government, but existential concerns are related;there is a significant difference between trust in the government and existential concerns according to work-occupational status;trust in the government and existential concerns decrease as age increases;as religious commitment increases, existential concerns decrease, while trust in the government increases. In addition, it has been observed that there is a significant relationship between the economic concerns of individuals and their trust in the government and their existential concerns. It was understood that the empirical and descriptive analysis results were also supported by the qualitative findings, and it was determined that they largely overlapped with the relevant literature. Bu çalışmanın amacı COV1D-19 salgını sürecinde insanların varoluşsal ve iktisadi kaygılarının devlete güvenle ilişkisini incelemektir. Bu baǧlamda, devlet-birey ilişkilerinin salgın sürecinde nasıl bir yön izlediǧi, devlete duyulan güven konusunda salgın dönemi ve sonrası politikaların nasıl algılandıǧı, devlete biçilen görev ve sorumluluklar ile bireylerin varoluşsal ve iktisadi kaygıları arasında nasıl bir ilişki olduǧu hakkında derinlemesine bilgilerin edinilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Söz konusu amaçlar doǧrultusunda çalışmanın yöntemi açıklayıcı sıralı karma yöntem olarak belirlenmiştir. Bu çerçevede öncelikle nicel veri toplama ve analiz süreci yapılmış, buradan çıkan sonuçlarla nitel araştırma gerçekleştirilmiştir. Nicel bulgulara göre;devlete ve kurumlarına güven arttıkça, bireylerin varoluşsal kaygılarında bir gerileme söz konusudur. Öte yandan cinsiyet ile devlete güven arasında ilişki bulunmadıǧı ancak varoluşsal kaygılar ilişkili olduǧu;iş-meslek durumlarına göre devlete güven ve varoluşsal kaygılar arasında anlamlı bir farklılık olduǧu;yaş arttıkça devlete güven ve varoluşsal kaygıların düştüǧü;dini baǧlılık arttıkça varoluşsal kaygılar azalırken, devlete güvenin arttıǧı tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca bireylerin iktisadi kaygıları ile devlete güven ve varoluşsal kaygıları arasında da anlamlı bir ilişki olduǧu görülmüştür. Ampirik ve betimleyici analiz sonuçlarının nitel bulgular tarafından da desteklendiǧi anlaşılmış, büyük oranda ilgili literatürle de örtüştüǧü tespit edilmiştir.

Experiences of workers with post-COVID-19 symptoms can signpost suitable workplace accommodations

Purpose>The prevalence and multi-system nature of post-COVID-19 symptoms warrants clearer understanding of their work ability implications within the working age population. An exploratory survey was undertaken to provide empirical evidence of the work-relevant experiences of workers recovering from COVID-19.Design/methodology/approach>A bespoke online survey based on a biopsychosocial framework ran between December 2020 and February 2021. It collected quantitative ratings of work ability and return-to-work status, qualitative responses about return-to-work experiences, obstacles and recommendations, along with views on employer benefits for making accommodations. A sample of 145 UK workers recovering from COVID-19 was recruited via social media, professional networks and industry contacts. Qualitative data was subject to thematic analysis. Participants were mainly from health/social care (50%) and educational settings (14%).Findings>Just over 90% indicated that they had experienced at least some post-COVID-19 symptoms, notably fatigue and cognitive effects. For 55%, symptoms lasted longer than six months. Only 15% had managed a full return-to-work. Of the 88 who provided workability ratings, just 13 and 18% respectively rated their physical and mental workability as good or very good. Difficulties in resuming work were attributed to symptom unpredictability, their interaction with job demands, managing symptoms and demands in parallel, unhelpful attitudes and expectations. Manager and peer support was reported as variable.Originality/value>Workplace health management characterised by flexible long-term collaborative return-to-work planning, supported by more COVID-centric absence policies and organisational cultures, appear pivotal for sustaining the return-to-work of the large segments of the global workforce affected by post-COVID-19 symptoms.

Sociodemographic inequality in exposure to COVID-19-induced economic hardship in the United Kingdom.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a lockdown in European countries in the first half of 2020, including stay-at-home orders and closure of non-essential businesses. To mitigate the detrimental effects on the financial stress of employees and households, the UK government implemented a furlough scheme that temporarily secured earnings up to 80 percent of regular pay. Other employees were at risk of reduced work hours or permanent job loss. Using data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study COVID-19 Supplement, this study examines the extent to which different earnings groups and sociodemographic groups (gender, race/ethnicity, class background) became exposed to economic hardship between March and May of 2020. Results indicate that lower earnings groups were more than twice as likely to experience economic hardship relative to top quintile earners. Furthermore, among pre-COVID employed individuals, men and whites had a lower probability of being furloughed or dismissed from work. Analyses indicate that these are to a large extent attributable to gender earnings inequalities within occupations and the fact that women and racial-ethnic minorities are employed in essential occupations.

A scoping review of the nursing workforce's changing demography: Supporting Baby-Boomer nurses.

AIMS: This scoping review discusses two telecommuting options to advance scholarship regarding Baby-Boomer nurses' delayed retirement and to extend their contribution to bedside nursing. BACKGROUND: Peer-reviewed studies published in the 15 years before COVID-19 indicate that Baby-Boomer nurses' retirement will increase the global nursing shortage. However, three international trends have affected Baby-Boomer nurses' decision to delay their retirement. EVALUATION: This review observed the scoping review framework. KEY ISSUES: COVID-19 further disrupts the current understanding of Baby-Boomer nurses' retirement as they recognize COVID-19's impact on health care systems and younger nurses. Technological advancements and the changing needs of health care delivery have made telecommuting a practical possibility. CONCLUSION: Baby-Boomer nurses can leverage alternative work arrangements to meet their needs and to contribute to clinical practice through telecommuting. This approach extends Baby-Boomer nurses' careers and creates a resource for bedside nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Clinical experience matters at the bedside. Telecommuting maximizes the retention of Baby-Boomer nurses' clinical expertise to benefit patients and to socialize bedside nurses. Baby-Boomer nurses can contribute to patient monitoring as well as patient education and counselling through telehealth. They can also provide asynchronous and synchronous telementoring to bedside nurses.