Abstract
The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused crucial changes in the workplace. Almost two years after the start of the COVID-19 era, new and old psychosocial risks in the workplace threaten workers’ mental wellbeing and represent an occupational health challenge. The aim of this review is to identify the most relevant psychosocial factors, negative or protective, contributing to occupational stress during the current pandemic. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar and PsycINFO and a total of 51 articles were deemed suitable for inclusion in the review. Analysis of the retrieved articles revealed five main topics related to psychosocial wellbeing in the workplace: 1. Support from colleagues and organizations; 2. Home–work interface and balance; 3. Changes in workload and work demand; 4. Job competence and appropriate training; 5. Job insecurity and financial stress. All five themes were associated with occupational stress and poor mental outcomes, like anxiety, depression, and burnout symptoms. Peer and organizational support seem to have a major impact on workers’ mental wellbeing. Recognizing these factors and projecting interventions that mitigate their effects or boost their efficacy is a fundamental step towards dealing with COVID-19 in the workplace, or any such future emergencies.
Highlights
The world of work has been profoundly affected by the global virus pandemic.Workers have been forced to change their habits and lifestyle both at an individual and organizational level
The shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the stigmatization of those working in direct contact with the infected, contributed towards the poor mental outcomes of healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in the sanitary emergency, at the beginning of the pandemic [4,5]
In this review we aim to identify the main aspect of work during the pandemic that causes poor mental outcomes of workers or, alternatively, to identify those aspects that can be protective towards stressful and harming working situations, such as those experienced by HCWs on the frontline
Summary
The world of work has been profoundly affected by the global virus pandemic.Workers have been forced to change their habits and lifestyle both at an individual and organizational level. Work arrangements and conditions have changed considerably, raising new challenges for the health and wellbeing of workers, whether in the frontline, in essential services, working from home, or having lost their businesses and jobs. The effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of workers have been widely addressed [1,2,3], especially for healthcare workers (HCWs). The shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the stigmatization of those working in direct contact with the infected, contributed towards the poor mental outcomes of HCWs involved in the sanitary emergency, at the beginning of the pandemic [4,5]. Depression, burnout, post-traumatic syndrome disorder (PTSD) and overall poor mental outcomes have been identified in HCWs dealing with the emergency [1,6,7]. Poor workplace infection control put HCWs, especially those on the frontline, at the risk of being infected and bringing the contagion
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
