Impact Analysis of Work Culture and Transformation during COVID-19: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract

Staff members use tried-and-true procedures when completing workplace visits, delivering services, and completing tasks for clients. However, the COVID-19 pandemic compelled employers to change the work styles of individual employees to ensure good communication, work-life balance, and flexibility for employees while maintaining optimal work productivity levels. In addition, the World Health Organization established social separation guidelines to combat COVID-19. The pandemic thus, challenged the work culture and also resulted in employees being quarantined in their homes. As a result of this transformation, employees were being encouraged to use digital tools to facilitate work-from-home opportunities. The current study aims to analyze employees' psychological and productive effects of work-from-home culture. It also looks for coworker bonding that is threatened by this transformation and suggests a way to keep it intact. Through a thorough review of the literature, the authors developed a comprehensive model to assess the pandemic's impact on employees' lifestyles. The conceptual model was empirically tested by applying the model to data collected from 233 employees from various backgrounds. The model result was validated using Partial Least Squares Methods- Structural Equation Modeling. The inferences highlight the factors influencing employee morale and work culture, as well as the parameters closely related to employee functioning in the organization that should not be affected.

Leveraging Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions for Devising COVID-19 Control Strategies

“…The coronavirus disease, commonly known as COVID-19, has been making headlines every second since its emergence in Wuhan, China, and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization [1]. The COVID-19 Pandemic has forced employers to alter individual work styles to ensure good communication, work-life balance, and flexibility for employees and maintain optimal work productivity levels while also influencing economic decisions [2], [3], [4].…”

Editorial Comment for the Inaugural Issue:JCMM Volume 1 Issue 1

“…The author combined particle swarm optimization (PSO) with the bat algorithm to solve the problem of finding the best subset of regression test cases with multi objectives of reducing risk in skipping test cases, maximizing the number of faults within the time constraints. Bhiwaniwala et al [6] developed a comprehensive model to assess the pandemic's impact on employees' lifestyles. The inferences highlighted the factors influencing employee morale and work culture and the parameters closely related to employee functioning in the organization that should not be affected.…”