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- Title
Frontline, Essential, and Invisible: The Needs of Low-Wage Workers in Hospital Settings During COVID-19.
- Authors
Zerden, Lisa de Saxe; Richman, Erica L.; Lombardi, Brianna; Forte, Alexandria B.
- Abstract
Background: Frontline health care workers are particularly vulnerable to burnout and diminished well-being as they endure COVID-19 pandemic-related stressors. While physicians and nurses are the public face of those experiencing burnout in hospitals, these stressors also affect low-wage workers such as food and housekeeping/janitorial service workers whose roles largely remain "invisible" when conceptualizing the essential health workforce and understanding their needs. This study sought to understand the experiences of frontline essential workers to better support them and prevent burnout. Methods: Using a semi-structured interview guide, we conducted 20 in-depth qualitative interviews with workers in three U.S. states. Thematic content analysis was conducted to code and analyze interviews. Results: Workers had an average of 5.8 years in their jobs, which included food services, housekeeping/janitorial, and patient transport roles. Analysis revealed four prominent stressors contributing to worker burnout: changes in duties and staff shortages, fear of contracting or transmitting COVID-19, desire for recognition of their job-related risk, and unclear communication on safety precautions and resources. Protective factors included paid time-off, mental health supports, sense of workplace pride, and self-coping strategies. Conclusion/Application to Practice: As health systems continue to grapple with care delivery in the context of COVID-19, identifying best practices to support all workers and prevent burnout is vital to the functioning and safety of hospitals. Further consideration is warranted to create policies and multipronged interventions to meet workers' tangible needs while shifting the culture, so all members of the health workforce are seen and valued.
- Subjects
CALIFORNIA; UNITED States; NORTH Carolina; COLORADO; HEALTH facility employees; PSYCHOLOGICAL burnout; OCCUPATIONAL achievement; SICK leave; WORK environment; COVID-19; SOCIAL support; INDUSTRIAL safety; WORK; ATTITUDES of medical personnel; RESEARCH methodology; INTERVIEWING; TRANSPORTATION of patients; LABOR demand; FEAR; CROSS infection; RISK assessment; QUALITATIVE research; PSYCHOSOCIAL factors; WAGES; EXPERIENTIAL learning; HOSPITAL food service; COMMUNICATION; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; RESEARCH funding; NEEDS assessment; THEMATIC analysis; CONTENT analysis; HOSPITAL housekeeping; PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation; STATISTICAL sampling; INDUSTRIAL hygiene; COVID-19 pandemic; HEALTH care rationing
- Publication
Workplace Health & Safety, 2022, Vol 70, Issue 11, p509
- ISSN
2165-0799
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/21650799221108490