Will Work-Family Guilt Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic Straitjacket Women into Prioritizing their Family?

Kruger, Johanna S. W.; Derks, Belle; Manzi, Francesca; Aarntzen, Lianne; Domen, Ilona; Riedijk, Larisa; Rijshouwer, Carina Dominique Nadine; Veelen, Ruth van; Vink, M.J.; Wal, Reine C. van der

doi:10.31234/osf.io/dgtn3

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Professional identification levels reported among essential workers were not higher relative to before during the 1 st wave of COVID-19 (Study 1), nor where they higher than for example women compared to men's in non-essential professions during the 2 nd peak wave (Study 1 and 2). Overall, for women in essential occupations there seemed little to gain, while for women in non-essential occupations there seemed more to lose with respect to their professional position (see also (Kruger et al, 2022). The reasons for this remain unclear and warrant further investigation.…”

Section: Practical Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Declared Non-Essential during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects on Professional Identity

van Veelen,

Kruger,

Derks

et al. 2023

Preprint

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This study applies a social identity lens to show that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dutch government’s classification of occupations and labor market sectors as essential versus non-essential imposed a professional identity threat to those categorized as non-essential. Specifically, we hypothesized (1) that non-essential workers in the Netherlands would report lower professional identification (PI) during the pandemic relative to essential workers; (2) that non-essential workers’ mandatory shift to working from home and working fewer hours would (partially) explain their lower PI relative to essential workers; (3) that gender differences would emerge in the impact of categorization as (non-)essential worker on PI levels; and (4) that lower PI would negatively relate to work productivity and performance during the pandemic. Empirical evidence based on three cross-sectional datasets sampled among the Dutch working population during two peak waves of COVID-19 infections and national lockdowns (May/June 2020; Study 1: N = 371; November/December 2020, Study 2: N = 467; Study 3 = 735) all confirmed that non-essential workers reported lower PI relative to essential workers. The explanation for this outcome varied at different stages in the pandemic. Study 1 results showed that lower PI among those declared non-essential was partially explained by non-essential workers’ work location (home-bound) and reduced work hours, but only during the 1st peak wave. As the pandemic continued (2nd peak wave; Study 2 and 3), gender differences emerged, with more negative consequences of being classified non-essential for women than men. Non-essential workers’ lower PI levels were also associated with lower work productivity and performance. These findings underscore the importance of understanding social identity processes during the pandemic. We discuss socio-psychological ramifications of government regulations to control health crises, given how these may inadvertently undermine the professional identity of over half a working population in society.

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Section: Practical Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%