Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Employee Well-Being : Perspectives From a Developing Economy

This book contributes toward the understanding of the human experience at work during the pandemic and its implications on employee well-being in the context of Malaysia, a developing economy with its own set of unique challenges. Very little research has been done about this issue to date, particularly in Malaysia. This book aims to bridge this gap by examining the Malaysian perspective of the concept of employee well-being in detail with the overarching goal of serving as a guide toward overcoming the challenges wrought on by the ever-changing post-pandemic environment. Different conditions and experiences are discussed to contextualize the unique ways in which individuals react to difficulties with an emphasis on how organizations can assist at a micro-level to allow employees to overcome such difficulties. -- Provided by publisher Preface 6 Contents 8 About the Authors 11 1 Pandemic Around the World: The New Norm 13 1.1 Introduction: The Era of the Pandemic 13 1.2 Global Experience 14 1.3 Perspectives of Malaysia 18 1.4 Conclusion 22 References 22 2 I’m So Lost: The Dissonance and Conflict in Me 25 2.1 Introduction 25 2.2 The Horrifying Pandemic: A New Life 26 2.3 Feelings and Emotional Dissonance: Why Do I Feel This Way? 27 2.4 Thinking and Cognitive Dissonance: Why Do I Behave This Way? 30 2.5 Individual Challenges in Malaysia 33 2.6 My Wellbeing, My Choice 36 2.7 Conclusion 38 References 38 3 Don’t Struggle in Silence: Let the Laws Do Their Part 40 3.1 Introduction 40 3.2 Pandemic—Mental Health Disaster 41 3.3 Mental Health Priority: Let’s Do This Together 42 3.4 Mental Health—Let the Law Play Its Roles 43 3.5 The Malaysian Scenario 43 3.5.1 Awareness 43 3.5.2 Mental Health Regulations: How Far Has Malaysia Gone? 44 3.5.3 Concluding Remark—Wakeup Call for Malaysia 50 3.6 The United Kingdom’s Approach 51 3.6.1 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 52 3.6.2 The Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) 53 3.6.3 The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 53 3.6.4 Equality Act 2010 53 3.6.5 Mental Health Act 2007 55 3.6.6 The Coronavirus Act 2020 56 3.6.7 Independent Mental Health Advocates 56 3.6.8 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) 57 3.7 Conclusion 57 References 58 4 Will It Ever Go Back to Normal? Working Since the Pandemic: The Changes, Struggles, Supports, and Hopes 62 4.1 Introduction 62 4.2 World of Work Since the Pandemic: Case of Malaysia 63 4.3 Working from Home: The Positives, the Negatives, and the Struggles 65 4.4 The Pandemic Does not Affect People Equally: Perspectives of the Women 70 4.5 Government, Organizations and Workers: Strategies in Place and How We Can Do More 72 4.5.1 Government 72 4.5.2 Organizations 73 4.5.3 Workers (Individuals) 75 4.6 Endemic: Working and Living with the Virus, and Things that Matters 77 4.7 Conclusion 78 References 78 5 Wellbeing of Employees in Family Owned Businesses in the COVID-19 Era: Anecdotal Evidence from Malaysia 82 5.1 Introduction 82 5.2 Family Businesses Have a Soul 84 5.3 Ensuring Employee Safety at All Costs 85 5.4 Sharing the Pain of Financial Strains with Non-Family Employees 87 5.5 We Are All in It Together 88 5.6 When the Going Gets Tough, Family Firms Are the Safest Places to Work 91 5.7 Conclusion 92 References 94 6 The Cloud Over My Social Life 96 6.1 Introduction 96 6.2 The Apocalypse 97 6.3 COVID-19: The Rise of the Pandemic of Social Isolation 98 6.4 Socialising During the Pre and Post Pandemic: The Malaysian Experience 100 6.4.1 Pre-COVID Socialising: Malaysian Style 100 6.4.2 Post-COVID—The Advent of Social Isolation in Malaysia 101 6.5 A Boon: A Silver Lining in the Dark Cloud 104 6.5.1 Personality 105 6.5.2 Motivational Factor 106 6.5.3 Behavioural Factor 106 6.6 A Bane: The Fear of Being Left Alone 107 6.7 Post-COVID: The Re-Entry Anxiety 108 6.8 The Rise of the Social Butterfly 109 6.9 Conclusion 111 References 111 7 The Perseverance Over Time 115 7.1 Introduction 115 7.2 The Individual: What Do I Do? 116 7.3 The Organisation: What Can Leaders and Peers Do? 118 7.4 The Government: What Can It Provide and Change? 119 7.5 The Society: What Shall We Contribute? 120 7.6 Epilogue 121 References 122