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The perceived risk of being infected at work: An application of the job demands–resources model to workplace safety during the COVID-19 outbreak

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Listed:
  • Alessandra Falco
  • Damiano Girardi
  • Laura Dal Corso
  • Murat Yıldırım
  • Daniela Converso

Abstract

Safety at work, both physical and psychological, plays a central role for workers and organizations during the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. Building on the job demands-resources (JD-R) model applied to safety at work, in this study we proposed that the perceived risk of being infected with COVID-19 at work can be conceptualized as a job demand (i.e., a risk factor for work-related stress), whereas those characteristics of the job (physical and psychosocial) that help workers to reduce or manage this risk can be conceived as job resources (i.e., protective factors). We hypothesized that the perceived risk of being infected at work is positively associated with emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, we hypothesized that job resources, in terms of safety systems, communication, decision-making, situational awareness, fatigue management, and participation in decision-making, are negatively associated with emotional exhaustion. We also hypothesized that job resources buffer the association between perceived risk and emotional exhaustion. Overall, 358 workers (meanage = 36.3±12.2 years) completed a self-report questionnaire, and the hypothesized relationships were tested using moderated multiple regression. Results largely supported our predictions. The perceived risk of being infected at work was positively associated with emotional exhaustion, whereas all the job resources were negatively associated with it. Furthermore, safety systems, communication, decision-making, and participation in decision-making buffered the relationship between the perceived risk of being infected at work and emotional exhaustion. In a perspective of prevention and health promotion, this study suggested that organizations should reduce the potential risk of being infected at work, whenever possible. At same time, those characteristics of the job that can help workers to reduce or manage the risk of infection should be strengthened.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandra Falco & Damiano Girardi & Laura Dal Corso & Murat Yıldırım & Daniela Converso, 2021. "The perceived risk of being infected at work: An application of the job demands–resources model to workplace safety during the COVID-19 outbreak," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0257197
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257197
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    Cited by:

    1. Leonel Prieto & Md Farid Talukder, 2023. "Resilient Agility: A Necessary Condition for Employee and Organizational Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-24, January.
    2. Zilin Yang & Xinping Wang & Chang Su & Boying Li, 2022. "The Relationship between Employee Risk Communication and Non-Adaptive Evacuation Behavior in Chinese Hazardous Chemical Companies: The Mediating Role of Emotional Exhaustion and Risk Perception," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-13, September.
    3. Subramony, Mahesh & Golubovskaya, Maria & Keating, Byron & Solnet, David & Field, Joy & Witheriff, Melissa, 2022. "The influence of pandemic-related workplace safety practices on frontline service employee wellbeing outcomes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 363-374.
    4. Gloria Guidetti & Daniela Converso & Domenico Sanseverino & Chiara Ghislieri, 2022. "Return to Work during the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Study on the Role of Job Demands, Job Resources, and Personal Resources upon the Administrative Staff of Italian Public Universities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-17, February.

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