Work changes due to COVID-19: exploring Portuguese workers’ expectations using IRaMuTeQ

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought massive disruption, as it strongly impacted several dimensions of people’s life. All over the world, organizations were forced to stop presential activities and adopt teleworking, except for front-line workers, who had to continue their presential activity, hence being more vulnerable to the virus. As we adjusted ourselves to this new reality, many debates emerged regarding the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will leave on our life, including our work lives. This study focuses on Portuguese workers’ expectations regarding changes in work associated with COVID-19. Data were collected via an online questionnaire between May and June 2020, requesting information regarding the confinement period during the first State of Emergency in Portugal. Expectations of change in work were assessed using an open answer question (i.e., “In your opinion, what will change in work contexts as a result of this pandemic?”). Overall, 207 Portuguese workers answered the questionnaire; here we focus on the 118 participants who answered the open question. Data were analysed using SPSS, IRaMuTeQ, and Thematic Analyses. Qualitative analysis shows that participants expect changes regarding the organization of work, namely the increase in the use of telework and digitization. They also expect changes in workload, working conditions and safety, and the relationship between managers/leaders and workers. This work contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had – and will continue to have - on our working lives and the areas associated.