Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Socio-Psychological Well-Being of Employees in Tourism and Hospitality Sector in Bida, Niger State
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2022-12
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Lead City University
Abstract
Drawing on social and psychological well-being literature underpinned by the concept of resilience, this study examines the impact of COVID-19 induced redundancy on the socio-psychological well-being of redundant employees, and its effect on their commitment to work and support recovery in the tourism industry. Utilizing a quantitative methods design, 400 questionnaires were administered, however, 200 were retrieved, and 15 interviews conducted with redundant employees in Bida between October and November 2021. Results from a regression analysis of the survey data supported by qualitative interview analysis indicated that age, marital status, education, monthly income and dependants had significant influence on psychological well-being [R = .50; R2 = .25; F (5, 192) = 13.07; P<.01] and social well-being [R = .36; R2 = .13; F (5, 192) = 5.65; P<.01]. Collectively, demographic factors (age, marital status, level of education, monthly income and dependants) accounted for 25 variance in psychological well-being and 13% variance on social well-being. However, when considered independently, only age (β = .26; t = 2.96; P<.05), marital status (β = -.33; t = -3.92; P<.01), level of education (β = .34; t = 4.75; P<.01) and monthly income (β = .14; t = 2.17; P<.05) were independent predictors of psychological well-being. However, work characteristics had no significant joint influence on psychological well-being [R = .20; R2 = .04; F (4, 193) = 1.91; P>.05]. However, employment status (β = -.15; t = -2.05; P<.05) was found to have independent influence on psychological well-being. As regards social well-being, when combined, work characteristics had significant joint influence on social well-being during COVID-19 pandemic[R = .22; R2 = .05; F (4, 193) = 2.50; P<.05]. However, only employment status (β = -.16; t = -2.18; P<.05) and employed household (β = -.15; t = -2.05; P<.05) was found to have independent influence on social well-being. Meanwhile, psychological well-being significantly influenced future work commitment in the industry. Managerial implications for supporting employee resilience, well-being, and future recovery strategies are critically examined. The study finds out that the fear of economic crisis and non-employability enhances the perceived job insecurity among the employees and is becoming the root causes for various socio-psychological problems such as stress, anxiety, depression and uncertainty during the covid-19 outbreak. The study concludes that the findings contributes to our understanding of how tourism employees' social and psychological wellbeing affects their ability to take part in the industry's post-crisis recovery efforts. Therefore it is recommended that the Niger state government and the players in the tourism sector should create and execute employee pay assistance programs and a strategy to reduce insurance premiums. Stake holders must select the path of survival by minimizing losses rather than taking the company's profit into account in order to recover from the COVID-19 catastrophe.
Keywords: COVID-19, Employee redundancy, Social and Psychological well-being, Post-Pandemic Recovery, Bida
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Kate Turabian