Workplace Effects of Covid-19 on Employees

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About this Research Topic

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Background

The pandemic has already dramatically changed the workplace landscape. Lockdowns and self-isolation have affected how people across the world are connected and working together. Employees had to learn to cope with these changes quickly. Teleworking, balancing work and life, dealing with technological challenges, and online communication with colleagues and clients are examples of such changes.

The financial and psychological consequences of the Covid-19 have been substantial to many people. As businesses went bankrupt, many lost their jobs, and scores of people worldwide dealt with psychological crises of redundancies, isolation, and loneliness. But the pandemic also came with some opportunities. Working from home allows saving traffic time to be spent with the family. Less traffic and office attendance means less pollution and saving energy in the typically big office spaces. Possibly, that is why some companies are finding it challenging to bring their employees back to the office after the lockdowns.

This Research Topic invites studies that explore the topics employees face amidst the global pandemic and upon returning to the offices. Through investigating these issues, we are looking to provide a better understanding of topics such as the following:

• the changes in the workplace practices during the pandemic
• the effect of such changes on the different groups, especially those of the less advantaged and minority backgrounds, women, and LGBTQ
• the most effective leadership styles during lockdown
• the impact of the digital gap on employees’ experience of teleworking
• the most effective practices and challenges of work-life balance during the pandemic
• setting up and redefining home as a workplace/office
• the impact of Covid-19 on workplace practices in the different national and cultural settings
• the challenges and arrangements needed for returning to work after lockdown
• communicating the psychological impact of the pandemic on the employees
• online organizational communication after Covid-19
• organizations' perception of teleworking due to the pandemic.

Any other topics contributing to our understanding of the effects of the pandemic on workplace practices and relationships across cultural and national boundaries are welcome. We especially encourage submissions focused on the less advantaged groups of employees.

The Research Topic welcomes studies from various fields, such as communication, management, psychology, and cultural studies. The issue will not be restricted to any specific methodology. All studies making a theoretical or empirical contribution to our knowledge of Covid-19 in workplaces practices are welcome. We are especially interested in receiving studies with significant societal impacts and studies of employees from less advantaged backgrounds.

Research Topic Research topic image

Keywords: Covid-19, Workplace practice, organizational communication, work-life balance, employee-manager relationship, organizational leadership

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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