In-person Process Research Articles

How Observing Compassion in the COVID-19 Pandemic Benefits Employee Work and Personal Outcomes

Organizational scholars and practitioners have espoused compassion as a powerful antidote to alleviating another’s suffering in the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, past work has largely examined compassion as an in-person process. In a time where remote work and social distancing are necessary to prevent further spread of the virus, it is unclear if the influence of compassion would be diminished without face-to-face interaction. In this research, we unpack the question of how far-reaching the impact of compassion can be by examining whether compassion can spill over to third parties uninvolved in the compassion episode, and whether its impact can be transmitted virtually—the common mode of communication in this time. Drawing on social contagion theory and the theory of transactional stress and coping, we examine how observing compassion influences employees’ interpersonal (organizational citizenship behavior) and intrapersonal (performance) work outcomes, and their personal well-being (negative mood), via employees’ other-orientation. We also examine how employees’ trait sense of control attenuates the compassion spillover effects. We test our proposed theoretical model via an experiential sampling intervention across two weeks in a sample of 91 K-12 teachers—essential workers whose work routines have been entirely disrupted and subjected to uncertainty (e.g., newly online courses). Each morning, we manipulated observed compassion (vs. control) via short stories involving other teachers. Overall, we found support for our propositions. We thus offer a simple remedy—that is, sharing short stories about compassion—that organizations and employees can use to alleviate some of the ongoing suffering during this difficult time.

Reinventing Yourself Virtually: Fifth Annual Society of Asian Academic Surgeons Virtual Conference

Virtual forms of communication have been integrated into academic surgery now more than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated its implementation in an effort to support social-distancing. Academic surgery is now learning valuable lessons from early experiences to optimally integrate this communication mode. The Society of Asian Academic Surgeons convened an expert panel during the society's fifth annual meeting that explores these lessons. Realms of virtual communication including meetings, networking, surgery department administration, social media, application processes, and advice for early or mid-career academic surgeons are explored. Virtual conferences pose a new challenge by removing the in-person component that is evident to be integral to networking, collaboration, and all aspects of academic socialization. Strategies such as creating virtual chat rooms, mentor-mentee virtual introductions, and deliberate interactions can enhance the experience. Virtual administrative meetings require special attention to preparation and strategies to insure engagement. Social media can be a valuable tool to integrate into academic careers but special attention needs to be made to utilize it deliberately and not to shy away from our individuality. The interview process can be enhanced when made virtual to give opportunities to those typically disadvantaged in the usual, in-person process.