Risky business: Understanding the association between objective COVID‐19 occupational risk features and worker subjective risk perceptions

Abstract

AbstractMany workers are at risk of contracting COVID‐19 through work, and subjective perceptions of COVID‐19 risk are important predictors of worker attitudes and behaviours. However, little to no research provides comprehensive examination of objective COVID‐19 occupational risk factors and how, or under what conditions, these factors relate to subjective risk perceptions. Using two wave survey data matched with archival data from the Occupational Information Network (O*Net) and county‐level COVID‐19 case data (N = 295), we examine how objective COVID‐19 occupational risk relates to workers' subjective risk of contracting COVID‐19 at work. We also examine the moderating roles of financial frailty, adherence to governmental workplace safety recommendations, and local COVID‐19 threat. Results indicate that objective COVID‐19 occupational risk significantly predicts subjective risk of contracting COVID‐19 at work. Moreover, factors representing in‐person work conducted in close proximity to others accounted for a large proportion of explained variance in subjective risk. There was no support for moderation; however, financial frailty and workplace safety had independent main effects on subjective risk perceptions. Our results have theoretical implications for the Economic Stress and COVID‐19 Occupational Risk model (Sinclair et al., Appl. Psychol., 70, 2021, 85), individual models of subjective risk perceptions, and practical implications for mitigating occupational risk at work.