Undercover Unemployment during COVID-19 pandemic: Qualitative study of public organizations in the Kingdom of Bahrain

ABSTRACT

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, countries hurried to offer unprecedented levels of emergency support to keep companies afloat, protect jobs and incomes and prevent the economy from collapsing. The Kingdom of Bahrain has adopted a vast range of preventive measures aimed at ensuring social distancing. Schools closed, private and public organizations switched to remote working. The quick and urgent shift to remote working policy has an impact on public organizations. A national study carried out by the Bahrain Institute of Public Administration (BIPA) in 2020 identified undercover Unemployment which is low productivity among employees working from home (WFH). Similar observations were reported within the context of COVID-19 and were explained with specific characteristics of WFH and its emerging challenges. This study investigates the factors behind the (UU) in the public organizations during the pandemic. Moreover, it proposes managerial solutions to public organizations towards sustainability and advocacy during the pandemic. Qualitative study used 12 semi-directive interviews have been conducted with public organizations' employees working in ministries in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The findings of this study will provide insights on the different reasons for (UU) during the pandemic. The results can assist managers and public organizations design constructive strategies to improve employee's productivity and reduce (UU) during the pandemic.