Safety behaviours and job satisfaction during the pandemic: The mediating roles of uncertainty and managerial commitment

Introduction: As the Covid-19 pandemic affects the world, disruptions to work routines impose a psychological burden on people, and thus can affect their job performance and well-being. We conducted an empirical study to explore the links between the experience of Covid-19 and workers’ safety behavi...

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Main Authors: Li, Keyao (Eden), Griffin, Mark
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier 2022
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/88835
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author Li, Keyao (Eden)
Griffin, Mark
author_facet Li, Keyao (Eden)
Griffin, Mark
author_sort Li, Keyao (Eden)
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Introduction: As the Covid-19 pandemic affects the world, disruptions to work routines impose a psychological burden on people, and thus can affect their job performance and well-being. We conducted an empirical study to explore the links between the experience of Covid-19 and workers’ safety behaviors and well-being outcome of job satisfaction. Method: Structural equation modelling (SEM) with a sample of 515 safety workers was conducted to simultaneously test the links among these constructs. Results: Experience of Covid-19 was associated with lower employee job satisfaction, explained by higher psychological uncertainty and decreased perception of managerial commitment to safety. Notably, contrasting pathways from experience of Covid-19 to safety behaviors were found. On the one hand, higher psychological uncertainty caused by the pandemic was associated with lower perceptions of managerial safety commitment; and lower perceived managerial safety commitment was linked to reduced safety compliance and safety participation. On the other hand, experience of Covid-19 in this study showed unexpected positive direct links with safety behaviors, which might be explained by workers’ enhanced safety knowledge, motivation, and status of mindfulness due to Covid-19 related safety instructions and communications. Conclusions: This exploratory study helps to deepen the understanding of workplace safety and well-being in the context of pandemic and in times of uncertainty. Practical Applications: The practical insights are useful for applying appropriate strategies for managing the Covid-19 crisis, coping with uncertainties, and building a healthier and safer workplace in the long run.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-888352022-07-20T03:40:06Z Safety behaviours and job satisfaction during the pandemic: The mediating roles of uncertainty and managerial commitment Li, Keyao (Eden) Griffin, Mark Introduction: As the Covid-19 pandemic affects the world, disruptions to work routines impose a psychological burden on people, and thus can affect their job performance and well-being. We conducted an empirical study to explore the links between the experience of Covid-19 and workers’ safety behaviors and well-being outcome of job satisfaction. Method: Structural equation modelling (SEM) with a sample of 515 safety workers was conducted to simultaneously test the links among these constructs. Results: Experience of Covid-19 was associated with lower employee job satisfaction, explained by higher psychological uncertainty and decreased perception of managerial commitment to safety. Notably, contrasting pathways from experience of Covid-19 to safety behaviors were found. On the one hand, higher psychological uncertainty caused by the pandemic was associated with lower perceptions of managerial safety commitment; and lower perceived managerial safety commitment was linked to reduced safety compliance and safety participation. On the other hand, experience of Covid-19 in this study showed unexpected positive direct links with safety behaviors, which might be explained by workers’ enhanced safety knowledge, motivation, and status of mindfulness due to Covid-19 related safety instructions and communications. Conclusions: This exploratory study helps to deepen the understanding of workplace safety and well-being in the context of pandemic and in times of uncertainty. Practical Applications: The practical insights are useful for applying appropriate strategies for managing the Covid-19 crisis, coping with uncertainties, and building a healthier and safer workplace in the long run. 2022 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/88835 10.1016/j.jsr.2022.05.008 Elsevier restricted
spellingShingle Li, Keyao (Eden)
Griffin, Mark
Safety behaviours and job satisfaction during the pandemic: The mediating roles of uncertainty and managerial commitment
title Safety behaviours and job satisfaction during the pandemic: The mediating roles of uncertainty and managerial commitment
title_full Safety behaviours and job satisfaction during the pandemic: The mediating roles of uncertainty and managerial commitment
title_fullStr Safety behaviours and job satisfaction during the pandemic: The mediating roles of uncertainty and managerial commitment
title_full_unstemmed Safety behaviours and job satisfaction during the pandemic: The mediating roles of uncertainty and managerial commitment
title_short Safety behaviours and job satisfaction during the pandemic: The mediating roles of uncertainty and managerial commitment
title_sort safety behaviours and job satisfaction during the pandemic: the mediating roles of uncertainty and managerial commitment
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/88835