Views on Workplace Policies and its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life During Coronavirus Disease (COVID-۱۹) Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey of Employees

BackgroundThis study explored the degree of views towards supportive workplace policies among employees during coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) pandemic and its association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Hong Kong. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in ۱۰۴۹ employees using online self-administered questionnaire. Views on workplace policies were measured in term of agreement on its comprehensiveness, timeliness and transparency whereas HRQoL was measured using EQ-۵D-۵L Hong Kong version. Univariate estimates on the impact of HRQoL from views of measures in workplace was done. Qualitative comments on the suggestions to strengthen workplace measures were collected and presented descriptively. ResultsOf ۱۰۴۸ respondents, ۱۶% reported that no workplace measures nor guidelines were existed in their company related to the COVID-۱۹ pandemics. Those who reported having workplace policy were not satisfied with the arrangement in term of comprehensiveness (۳۶%), timeliness (۳۸%), and transparency (۶۳%). Regarding to the policy measure, only ۶۸% respondents reported that their workplace supplied face masks to them. The health index was ۰۸۹۷, which was lower than the norm of ۰.۹۲۴. ۶۴% of respondents reported having a health problem in at least ۱ of ۵ dimension of EQ-۵D-۵L with the highest proportion of having problem in anxiety/depression (۵۵%). In addition, the workplace policy and measure had a direct effect of ۰.۱۳۱ on health outcome. Perception of infection risk had a direct effect of ۰.۲۱۸ on health outcome and partly mediated the relationship between workplace policy and measure and health outcome (۰.۰۶۶). ConclusionThe study highlighted the workplace policy and measure is an important mean to minimize infection risk at workplace so as to reduce tremendous stress and health outcome caused by a COVID-۱۹ pandemic. Workplace measures related to COVID-۱۹ pandemic should be further strengthen to mitigate the risk of infection and protect employee’s health.

Keywords:

Workplace Policies , Health-Related Quality of Health , Occupational Health , Employees , COVID-۱۹ , Hong Kong