Abstract
Background: This study explored the degree of views towards supportive workplace policies among employees during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Hong Kong. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1049 employees using online self-administered questionnaire. Views on workplace policies were measured in term of agreement on its comprehensiveness, timeliness and transparency whereas HRQoL was measured using EQ-5D-5L Hong Kong version. Univariate estimates on the impact of HRQoL from views of measures in workplace was done. Qualitative comments on the suggestions to strengthen workplace measures were collected and presented descriptively. Results: Of 1048 respondents, 16% reported that no workplace measures nor guidelines were existed in their company related to the COVID-19 pandemics. Those who reported having workplace policy were not satisfied with the arrangement in term of comprehensiveness (36%), timeliness (38%), and transparency (63%). Regarding to the policy measure, only 68% respondents reported that their workplace supplied face masks to them. The health index was 0897, which was lower than the norm of 0.924. 64% of respondents reported having a health problem in at least 1 of 5 dimension of EQ-5D-5L with the highest proportion of having problem in anxiety/depression (55%). In addition, the workplace policy and measure had a direct effect of 0.131 on health outcome. Perception of infection risk had a direct effect of 0.218 on health outcome and partly mediated the relationship between workplace policy and measure and health outcome (0.066). Conclusion: The study highlighted the workplace policy and measure is an important mean to minimize infection risk at workplace so as to reduce tremendous stress and health outcome caused by a COVID-19 pandemic. Workplace measures related to COVID-19 pandemic should be further strengthen to mitigate the risk of infection and protect employee’s health.
Highlights
As of March 9, 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread across more than 110 countries after the initial case identified at the end of December 2019 in Wuhan, China with 113 702 confirmed cases and 4012 deaths.[1]
The last 4 occupation groups were grouped as blue-collar workers and a weighed adjustment was applied to the occupational groups of study
Consistent with our hypothesis, our results showed that workplace policy and measures is significantly associated with health outcome in employees
Summary
As of March 9, 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread across more than 110 countries after the initial case identified at the end of December 2019 in Wuhan, China with 113 702 confirmed cases and 4012 deaths.[1] On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak as pandemic[2] and it is a serious concern for public health. Evidence highlighted social mobilization plays a significant in the infectious disease spread.[3] In order to mitigate the rapid spread of COVID-19 through international contact and outbreak at local community, many jurisdictions have implemented policy interventions and public health measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19. The announcement came in the wake of similar measures in other majority industries such as education, social service units including non-governmental organizations, and commercial offices in private sectors to adopt home offices or flexible work arrangements
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