Salary Reduction Research Articles

Behaviour Change Techniques: An Application to Increase Employees' Willingness to Accept a Salary Reduction.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many organisations worldwide asked their employees to accept a temporary salary reduction to manage the financial consequences of the unprecedented event. In this paper, we use a CEO's salary reduction announcement to all employees and investigate whether a behaviour change intervention using five selected Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) increases expat employees' overall willingness to accept a temporary salary reduction. We use mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, including survey and experiment, to test our hypotheses and frame our results. The results show that, while the direction of impact was positive, respondents were overall not significantly more likely to accept a temporary salary reduction. However, a significant effect was found for the individual BCT 'Modelling'. Participants were significantly more likely to accept a pay cut if they knew their senior management took a larger cut than asked of participants. The outcomes of this study suggest that the availability of a financial buffer and the strength of the employer-employee relationship play a, possibly more important, role in employees' willingness to accept a pay reduction. In addition, leadership matters as this study shows that people are more willing to accept a salary reduction when senior management leads the way.

Does Stakeholder Outrage Determine Executive Pay?

Abstract An unprecedented number of firms announced CEO salary reductions at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. We document that the total compensation for these CEOs did not actually decrease but was instead restructured, leading to a marked increase in opaque components of compensation. These adjustments align with the managerial power view of executive pay setting, whereby heightened stakeholder outrage prompts greater camouflaging of compensation to avoid scrutiny. We further show that this pattern of compensation adjustments predominantly occurred in firms with powerful CEOs, weak institutional investor monitoring, and poorer governance quality.

The effect of board chairs’ hometown identity on labor cost stickiness

In this study, we examine the impact of board chairs' hometown identity on labor cost stickiness in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Using data from China, our findings demonstrate that local board chairs can effectively mitigate labor cost stickiness by leveraging their communication advantages. Mechanism analyses reveal that local board chairs primarily achieve this through salary reductions rather than layoffs. We validate two plausible channels, cultural alignment and social trust, through a series of heterogeneity tests. Our results indicate that the influence of board chairs' hometown identity is more pronounced in SOEs located in provinces with smaller dialect diversity, less population mobility, and lower social trust levels, as well as those led by board chairs without overseas experience, serving longer terms, and far from retirement. Overall, this study contributes to existing literature by providing empirical evidence on how board chairs’ hometown identity facilitates the alleviation of labor cost stickiness in SOEs.

PENGARUH PEMBERIAN KOMPENSASI TERHADAP KEPUASAN KERJA KARYAWAN PADA KOPERASI BERKAH MANDIRI SEJAHTERA DI TANJUNG SARI BOGOR

This study aims to determine the effect of compensation on employee job satisfaction at Berkah Mandiri Sejahtera Cooperative in Tanjungsari. This research is important based on the low level of employee job satisfaction, which impacts their performance and productivity, as indicated by the data on salary reductions and increased employee turnover over the past three years. This study uses a quantitative method with an associative design to explore the relationship between the independent variable (compensation) and the dependent variable (job satisfaction). Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to all cooperative employees, with 35 respondents. The results showed that compensation had a significant effect on employee job satisfaction. The statistical test results indicated a coefficient of determination (R-Square) value of 77.6%, meaning that the compensation variable explains 77.6% of the variation in employee job satisfaction. The t-test showed a significance value of 0.000, less than 0.05, thus rejecting H0 and accepting Ha, indicating a significant effect between compensation and job satisfaction. The contribution of this research lies in strengthening empirical evidence that proper compensation, aligned with employees' needs, can enhance their job satisfaction, which in turn can improve company performance and productivity. This research is expected to serve as a reference for companies in formulating effective compensation policies to enhance employee satisfaction and performance.

Navigating the Discrepancy: How Cost of Living (COL) Adjustments Impact Otolaryngology Residents' Salaries.

To compare differences in otolaryngology residents' salaries in different cities and states before and after adjusting for the cost of living. Cross-sectional analysis. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) otolaryngology residency program websites. US otolaryngology residency programs were identified via the ACGME database in December 2023. Stipends posted by each residency program were compared to the cost of living (COL) for related states and major cities. A baseline value of 100 was used as the mean COL, values over 100 indicate above-mean COL. The weighted salary by state and cities for postgraduate year (PGY) 1 to 5 combined was expressed as mean (SD). Comparisons between salaries before and after adjustment for the COL were assessed using t tests. The mean otolaryngology residency stipend across the nation, by city, was $70,572 (n = 1290, range: $58,100-$93,402; SD = $8370), with a post-COL adjustment mean stipend of $64,055 (range: $39,193-$76,674, SD = $10,094, p < .001). Otolaryngology residents in Manhattan, New York State faced a mean decrease from $89,282 to $39,193 (-56%) post-COL adjustments. Following that were Boston and Los Angeles programs which saw a -$26,402 (-32%) and -$24,761 (-32%) mean decrease after COL adjustments, respectively. Otolaryngology residents in high-cost areas experience significant salary reductions because of COL adjustments, resulting in financial strain. Residents in such regions endure increased financial pressure compared to those in low-cost areas, as current salaries fail to align with living expenses.

The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Media Operations in Rwanda

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization designated COVID-19 as a worldwide pandemic, the first of its kind since H1N1 influenza was categorized as a pandemic in 2009.The pandemic has caused unprecedented economic challenges globally across various sectors, including the media. Media organizations heavily rely on advertising revenue, which took a hit during the pandemic. Media organizations have had to drastically adjust to new ways of operating to align with the untold consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, there has been a scarcity of scholarly research exploring the effect of the pandemic on how different media houses managed to overcome and adjust to the changing operating environment. To address this research gap, this research project took the case study of Rwanda and explored how the pandemic has affected the different media houses in different aspects of their operations. The study sheds light on how the pandemic has affected Rwandan media operations and how they have responded to the new operating environment. The specific objectives of the study were as follows: to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic affected media production routines; to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected media revenues; to find out how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the welfare of journalists in Rwandan media houses; and to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the way media houses in Rwanda engaged with their audience. To achieve the research goals, the study employed the explanatory sequential research design, which is a mixed research approach that incorporated a survey and interviews. The survey targeted 85 accredited journalists, sampled from a population of 568 journalists. The study focused on media houses operating in the three districts of the City of Kigali: Kicukiro, Gasabo, and Nyarugenge Districts. To select the sample of respondents, a simple random approach was used, considering gender balance. In relation to the study, political economy theory was used to place the research within a broader context by connecting it to existing knowledge. The research revealed that Rwandan journalists encountered difficulties in gathering and producing news, prompting a move towards remote reporting and dependence on citizen journalism. Decreased media revenues, attributed to event cancellations and reduced advertising, resulted in job losses and salary reductions. Journalists also had challenges in obtaining sources and negative consequences for their well-being. Media organizations need to protect journalists, challenge false information, and diversify their funding streams in order to increase their efficiency in times of crisis. While media groups should train journalists to be flexible in every situation and support press freedom, the Rwandan government should facilitate the flow of information and offer financial support to media outlets during times of crisis.

Human Capital Productivity and "ageing" Expenditure: An OECD Study

Abstract Demographic ageing that is already evident in many OECD countries will become more acute in the coming decades. The costs associated with this phenomenon are most apparent in spending on pensions, healthcare and long-term care. Among the solutions put forward to deal with this, the productivity of human capital is the one we propose and analyze. According to Mincer's theory, the salary, which represents the reward for production, is the variable that we propose to use in the analysis of human capital productivity. Salary is the materialization of work done, so the higher it is, the more productive it is. Salary variation is therefore our dependent variable and spending on pensions and healthcare are our key independent variables. Our analysis covers 33 of the 37 countries that make up the OECD system. We use the ordinary least squares method on panel data covering the period 2000-2020. Our key independent variables show a negative correlation with salary variation. This would mean that an increase in spending on pensions and healthcare would lead to a reduction in salaries to cover these costs. However, as our education variables (average years of study, employment rate of secondary and tertiary graduates...) show a positive correlation with salary variation, we can undoubtedly state that improving human capital through education and training is the solution to be encouraged by the public authorities in a context of ageing. JEL classification numbers: H51, H55, E24. Keywords: Productivity, Human capital, Pension expenditure, Healthcare expenditure.

Effect of financial incentives on the cost and duration of sickness absence.

Sickness absence is a major concern in public health, affecting individuals, businesses, and society. Developing efficient sickness absence policies could help reduce sickness absence. A key aspect of these policies concerns the financial compensation provided to absent employees, including its amount and the length of time it is offered. This study addresses how financial incentives, like salary reductions, might influence sickness absence. For this purpose, we first develop a model to estimate the sensitivity of employees to a financial incentive using a large dataset consisting of approximately six million sickness cases. We then perform a simulation study to determine the effect of similar incentives at different moments and for varying sensitivities. Our findings indicate that financial incentives can notably shorten the duration of sickness absence and decrease its associated costs, particularly when such incentives are implemented early in the absence period. Incentives implemented later have less impact on absence duration, but can still reduce the overall cost. The results of this study can be used by healthcare professionals and employers in the design and evaluation of diverse sickness absence policies.

Real-world assessment of a decentralized food waste anaerobic digestion system: A test-bedding case study application

Addressing the global challenge of food waste, this research delves into the assessment of an on-site food waste treatment solution through a full-scale decentralized anaerobic digester (AD) system, specifically deployed at a Singapore hawker centre. Demonstrating efficiency in Singapore's tropical climate (29 °C) without external heating, the 10.8 m³ digester exhibited resilience over 234 days, navigating through real-world fluctuations in average organic loading rates ranging from 0.07 ± 0.02 to 0.81 ± 0.38 kgVS/(m3d). The normalized specific biogas production averaged 0.70 ± 0.48 m3/kgVS, accompanied by a methane concentration of 56.9 ± 2.9%. During peak performance, with an organic loading rate of 1.1 kgVS/(m3d), the system achieved an impressive volumetric biogas production rate of 1.18 m3biogas/m3reactor, equivalent to 1.1 m3/kgVS of specific biogas production per day. The energy assessment revealed consumption rates of 0.57–0.97 m3/kWh, positioning it comparably with commercialized biogas technologies in China and Taiwan. In the realm of microbiome composition, the prevalence of hydrogenotrophic methanogens, including Methanomicrobia, Thermoplasmata, and Nanoarchaeia, is notable. These methanogens showcase a remarkable tolerance to acetate, surpassing common aceticlastic methanogens by 11 times, thereby playing a pivotal role in enhancing the stability of the AD system over extended periods. On the economic front, the present AD system yielded losses ranging from SG$552,434 to SG$742,919, primarily due to a low payback period and substantial investment costs. Profitability becomes a possibility if there are significant reductions in capital costs and operator salaries. The challenges encountered during the operation of this decentralized system, along with the corresponding mitigation measures, are thoroughly discussed. Positioned as a promising test-bedding model, this application underscores its technical feasibility potential for sustainable food waste management through AD technology in Singapore. It stands as a replicable prototype, contributing to closing the food waste loop and advancing the bioeconomy.

Compensation Incentive of Executives under the Situation of Synergy or Mutual Exclusion of Corporate Profit and Innovation Tasks: Based on Incentive Game Model between Principal and Agent

Based on the synergistic or mutually exclusive relationship between corporate profits and innovation tasks, such that shareholders can predict these two scenarios, this study constructed a multitask principal-agent mode considering “the degree of synergy or mutual exclusion between profit and innovation,” “salary reduction penalty,” and other factors. Based on mathematical logic, we determined the correlation and influence of synergistic or mutually exclusive degrees on executive profitability compensation and salary reduction penalties. Based on the 2016–2022 annual reports of A-share listed companies registered in Shanghai and Shenzhen, China, this research empirically verifies the effects of the aforementioned degree of synergy and mutual exclusion on managers’ compensation incentives. The research conclusions are stated as follows: (1) If shareholders can predict the synergy between profitability and innovation activities, then the salary reduction penalty (representing executive compensation stickiness) exhibits a significant negative correlation with the degree of synergy μ, whereas if the coefficient of executive profitability compensation βi (compensation sensitivity) bears a moderately positive relationship with μ, the shareholders will, to a certain extent, improve the performance-sharing coefficient of senior executives and reduce the penalty coefficient of salary reduction to increase the overall income level of senior executives via the incentive effect. (2) If shareholders can predict the mutually exclusive effect of profitability and innovation activities, the salary reduction penalty (representing executive compensation stickiness) is significantly positively correlated with the degree of mutual exclusion μ, whereas the coefficient of executive profitability compensation βi (compensation sensitivity) negatively affects the degree of synergy μ to a certain extent; however, this negative relationship is not prominent. This indicates that to avert the short-sighted behaviour of executives, shareholders will drive them toward investing in innovation by reducing the profitability compensation coefficient as well as increasing the innovative compensation coefficient. Simultaneously, the shareholders will increase the penalty coefficient of salary reduction to urge the executives to strengthen the operation and management of other profitable activities of the enterprise to maintain short-term performance at a reasonable level. (3) If shareholders cannot predict the synergy between profitability and innovation activities, they will attribute the source of excess earnings to the efforts of the senior executives. In particular, a greater degree of synergy is more likely to reduce the penalty for the senior executives. If the shareholders cannot predict the mutually exclusive effect of profitability and innovation tasks, the correlation between the penalty coefficient of salary reduction and the degree of mutual exclusion is related to the decline in performance. In such a scenario, the shareholders attribute the short-term deterioration in corporate performance to the negligence of the senior executives in corporate operations. Consequently, they urge senior executives to seriously operate the enterprise by increasing the penalty for senior executives. If the decline in performance exceeds the critical value, the shareholders will effectively motivate the senior executives by reducing the penalty coefficient of their salary reduction and moderately increasing their profit-making compensation sharing coefficient to avoid negative investment or their resignation.

Does the source of money determine retirement investment choices?

Using a unique dataset of actual investment choices of Oregon State University employees, we investigate how investment choices differ among (1) the optional retirement plan (ORP) funded by the employer and (2) the investments in 403(b) accounts funded by employees themselves using voluntary salary reduction. We find that the level of risk associated with voluntary, salary reduction investments in 403(b) accounts is lower than the risk these same employees are currently taking in their employer funded 401(a) accounts. We also investigate whether the choice of the provider has a significant impact on the asset allocation chosen by the employees and find that participant investment choices in Fidelity are riskier than the choices made by those in TIAA-CREF.

The economic and psychological impact of COVID-19 on highly skilled Indian migrants: a case study of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Already exposed to different socio-economic vulnerabilities across the globe, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic accentuated the challenges faced by migrant workers. In this context, migrants working in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are no exception. This study attempts to examine the economic and psychological impact of COVID-19 on highly-skilled Indian migrants working in Saudi Arabia. Based on a survey of 335 highly skilled Indian migrant workers, the paper underlines that more than half of them faced financial issues, salary reductions, cuts in employment benefits, reduction in saving levels and a decline in remittance flow. The Correlation test was conducted to assess the psychological impact of covid-19 on migrants. A significant relationship was found between the migrants’ perception towards government policies and mental health. Based on the findings, the paper underlines the need for favourable government policies to overcome the problems faced by highly-skilled Indian migrants in the Gulf region.

How to Improve the Work Enthusiasm of Chinese Local Public Officials under the Background of Salary Reduction -- A Case Study of Guangzhou

The impact of COVID-19 on China's social and economic development is unprecedented, and China's finance is tight. In order to deal with this situation, China has adopted the method of strengthening fiscal savings. Many regional governments have responded to the call and started to reduce employees' salaries. At present, people do not know the reason for the pay reduction by local governments, the working conditions of local government officials, the factors affecting their enthusiasm for work, whether it is caused by the pay reduction or other factors, and what logical relationship exists within it. Firstly, through literature analysis, this paper abstracts the influencing factors of local government pay reduction; Secondly, interview public officials; Finally, through the analysis of the interview results, can understand the current situation of public officials' work after the salary reduction, and extract the factors that affect the enthusiasm of public officials. In order to further provide a reference for the Guangzhou government, effectively improve the enthusiasm of local government officials and help the full development of government departments. In addition, this study attempts to provide some reference for the interaction between government departments and public officials.

Economic Fallout of Covid-19: Evidence from South Africa

The covid 19 pandemic was quite challenging for policy makers in that it presented both an economic and health crisis. This meant that policy makers had to strike a balance between saving lives and protecting livelihoods. Against this backdrop, the primary goal of this study is to examine the economic fallout of covid 19 in South Africa. On the education front, the study finds that nearly 15% (2 million) of public-school pupils did not return to school post covid 19. Furthermore, the study finds that the covid 19 pandemic exacerbated the entrenched digital divide in the education system. As regards the economic implications of the covid 19 pandemic, the study found that business liquidations increased by as much as 48.9% following the outbreak of the covid 19 pandemic. Even worse, the total number of civil summonses issued for debt increased by 28.9% in the three months ending July 2021 compared to July 2020. Meanwhile, the value of civil judgements recorded for debt doubled from R483 million to R855 million during the same period. This indicates that following the outbreak of covid 19, a significant number of citizens were facing a litany of cash flow challenges amid reductions in salaries and forced retrenchments, hence the default in loan repayments. There remains a strong need for epidemic preparedness given that disease outbreaks are not likely to disappear in the near future. This can be achieved by harnessing lessons from previous pandemics and establishing effective surveillance and response systems.

Effects of information on salary satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic: an equity-based mediation model

PropósitoEsta investigación pretende estudiar los efectos de la información (sobre el salario, las reducciones salariales y el impacto de la pandemia en la organización) en la satisfacción salarial de los trabajadores que sufrieron reducciones salariales durante la pandemia de COVID-19, analizando el papel mediador de la equidad salarial en esta relación.Diseño/metodología/enfoqueLa información se obtuvo mediante un cuestionario estructurado enviado por correo electrónico en mayo de 2021 a 251 empleados en Espa durante la “tercera ola” de COVID-19. El modelo se estimó utilizando la media ponderada de mínimos cuadrados, y varianza ajustada (WLSMV).ConclusionesLos resultados recogidos revelan que la percepción de equidad de los trabajadores media totalmente la relación entre la información salarial y la información de recortes salariales sobre la satisfacción salarial.Implicaciones prácticasAprender más sobre los efectos de la información en la satisfacción salarial puede contribuir a políticas de comunicación que reduzcan el impacto negativo de decisiones salariales delicadas, implicaciones prácticas para empleados, organizaciones y responsables políticos.OriginalidadEste estudio examina el papel central de la información organizativa como mecanismo de gestión de los problemas derivados de las condiciones laborales desfavorables inducidas por la pandemia. Analiza cómo esta información afecta a las actitudes de los trabajadores, destacando el papel de la equidad como mediador en este proceso.

DAMPAK KECEMASAN MASYARAKAT TERHADAP KESEHATAN MENTAL DI MASA PANDEMI COVID 19

The covid 19 outbreak brought new problems for humans, the covid 19 pandemic resulted in many people to adjust to new habits, many fields that experienced setbacks to the lives of Indonesian people, such as the declining community economy, many of the people in Indonesia experienced layoffs, salary reductions and closed access to find jobs and threatened public health both physically and mentally health. The purpose of this study is to determine the causes of anxiety disorder in Indonesian society during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this study, the method used was to use literature review. Researchers study and examine the problem of anxiety during covid-19 as well as several supporting theories from several books or other literature. Based on the results of the research on the factors that cause the community to experience anxiety disorders, first, namely the dissemination of information that worsens people's mental health conditions, secondly the anxiety that occurs in the community, namely anxiety caused by economic factors including termination or termination of work, closure of business premises, family income decreases while expenses increase from the above conditions, it can be concluded that the anxiety experienced by the community, namely due to financial and economic conditions. In addition, the factors that cause anxiety disorders in the community are because it is difficult to worship in places of worship, not getting religious knowledge regularly, difficulty in establishing friendships with brothers and sisters and are considered non-religious.

DAMPAK KECEMASAN MASYARAKAT TERHADAP KESEHATAN MENTAL DI MASA PANDEMI COVID 19

The covid 19 outbreak brought new problems for humans, the covid 19 pandemic resulted in many people to adjust to new habits, many fields that experienced setbacks to the lives of Indonesian people, such as the declining community economy, many of the people in Indonesia experienced layoffs, salary reductions and closed access to find jobs and threatened public health both physically and mentally health. The purpose of this study is to determine the causes of anxiety disorder in Indonesian society during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this study, the method used was to use literature review. Researchers study and examine the problem of anxiety during covid-19 as well as several supporting theories from several books or other literature. Based on the results of the research on the factors that cause the community to experience anxiety disorders, first, namely the dissemination of information that worsens people's mental health conditions, secondly the anxiety that occurs in the community, namely anxiety caused by economic factors including termination or termination of work, closure of business premises, family income decreases while expenses increase from the above conditions, it can be concluded that the anxiety experienced by the community, namely due to financial and economic conditions. In addition, the factors that cause anxiety disorders in the community are because it is difficult to worship in places of worship, not getting religious knowledge regularly, difficulty in establishing friendships with brothers and sisters and are considered non-religious.

Economic crisis and its impact on the mental health of nursing and medical personnel

Obgective: The sample constituted by 112 employees of nursing and medical personnel of public alongside private health institutions in the prefecture of Imathia. The survey was conducted by using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30). The first part of the questionnaire comprised of demographic and questions regarding theis profession. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS v23. Method: The sample constituted by 112 employees of nursing and medical personnel of public alongside private health institutions in the prefecture of Imathia. The survey was conducted by using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30). The first part of the questionnaire comprised of demographic and questions regarding theis profession. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS v23. Results: The 25% of the research personnel appear to be anxious and 16% appear to be depressed although no one experience depression. The variables that show strong correlations seem to affect employees in relation with their decisions, the way they work/ live, and their psychopathology are distinguished by their age, the working sector, the years of work, marital status, the salary reduction and finally the insecurity. Conclusions: Governments in periods of economic crisis should invest in health sector, as through this kind of investment, they will have a reinforcement of human development and social well-being.

Survey Upah Kerja Restoran di Kabupaten Bandung pada Masa Pandemi

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on low-income workers, most of whom have experienced significant salary cuts. This happened due to government policy in an effort to suppress the spread of covid 19 by making an Emergency Community Activity Restriction Program (PPKM) policy for the Java Bali area starting on July 4, 2021. The regulation strictly restricts the activities of citizens. Employers who can still survive provide options for workers, namely working with a salary of 20-30% of the initial salary in the work agreement or being laid off because it requires company efficiency, which means experiencing a salary reduction of 80%. Based on the results of a survey conducted by the Indonesia Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (IBCWE) in May and December 2020. Workers who experienced a suspension of work again by 26% and workers who were still working, but experienced a reduction in working hours and wages by 55%. Bandung Regency itself, not a few companies cut their employees' salaries because production has dropped dramatically, some even completely close their companies, as happened in Dayeuhkolot District. There were massive layoffs from two garment companies that went out of business. Employees are temporarily laid off or working hours are reduced, taking turns with other employees which of course has an impact on reducing salaries. The formulation of the problem of how to determine the working hours of MSME workers in Bandung Regency during the pandemic and how to determine salaries based on these working hours. This study aims to determine the payroll applied by business actors in Bandung Regency during the pandemic. The research method used is qualitative descriptive. Meanwhile, the expected output of this research is to contribute data and facts related to the impact of the pandemic to business actors and the government through publication in accredited national journals.

Does Covid-19 reduce food waste in the hospitality sector in Dubai?

PurposeFood waste (FW) is a significant problem in the hospitality sector worldwide. The Covid-19 pandemic has imposed a health protocol on the hospitality sector to protect the customers and the community. This paper aims to evince a new understanding of the tourist city during the Covid-19 pandemic by exploring the effects of the new health protocol on FW management at the consumption stage in the hospitality sector in Dubai.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the authors use a scale assessment method and a survey distributed to 202 tables in 35 restaurants offering open buffet catering in Dubai.FindingsThe paper’s findings provide evidence that: first, the tourist city has faced substantial changes during the pandemic as the new health protocol imposed by the Covid-19 circumstances has mitigated the waste of food in the open buffet services. Second, the highest waste has been observed for vegetables, followed by grains (especially rice) and bread. The lowest waste has been observed for meat and fruits. Third, FW per table varies considerably by consumer groups. The FW quantity of residents is significantly higher than that of tourists. Family gathering tables with an essential number of children waste more food than the other group types. Fourth, consumers claimed to become more conscious about the quantum of FW as a direct response to the socio-economic circumstances imposed by the lockdown such as food availability, salary reduction, economic uncertainty and employment instability. Fifth, the attitude to keeping food on the plate does not change considerably.Practical implicationsThis paper offers many practical implications. Using newly discovered pieces of evidence from practitioners, hoteliers and policymakers, this paper highlights current hospitality practices that can reduce the waste of food in a postpandemic world. Furthermore, our paper suggests a set of actions for restaurants offering open-buffet services to reduce FW at the consumption stage.Originality/valueThis paper adds significance to the extant tourist city literature. The tourist city served as an example of a recent urban development characterized mainly by tourist consumption. This research advances the understanding of FW management and customers’ behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic in an important touristic city “Dubai” and suggests a set of actions.