Effects of the COVID 19 pandemic on Women’s Wellbeing at the Workplace: Lessons for managing pandemics from the experience of Oxfam, Zimbabwe.
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s wellbeing at the workplace in Zimbabwe. The specific objectives were to assess the workplace challenges faced by women due to the COVID-19 pandemic; to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women at the workplace; and lastly, to establish measures that can be implemented to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s wellbeing at the workplace. Primary data was collected from the 76 staff complement of Oxfam Zimbabwe. The research adopted a mixed methods approach and employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches using a cross-sectional survey research design. The researcher used SPSS software for data analysis as well as thematic analysis for the bulk of the qualitative data. The study found out that the major challenges affecting the wellbeing of women at Oxfam Zimbabwe during COVID-19 included exclusion, exhaustion, work-related pressure, and burn out. The study found out that one of the measures adopted by organisations to offset the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is re-establishing a new norm of flexibility. In terms of the countermeasures that can be taken to lessen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in its various forms, adjustment of policies and programmes to better support employees and improvement of the flow of information was also established as a measure to mitigate the effect of COVID-19. The study recommends that Oxfam Zimbabwe should make certain that the requirements of female healthcare providers are taken into consideration at every stage of the organisational response. In addition, the study recommends that the employed should lobby their organisation to come up with cushioning mechanisms that would ensure their protection, safety, and wellbeing during periods of pandemics.
Key words: COVID-19, Wellbeing, Women, Workplace, Oxfam Zimbabwe