Restaurant employees' attitudinal reactions to social distancing difficulties: a multi-wave study
Author(s)
Huo, Meng-Long
Jiang, Zhou
Cheng, Zhiming
Wilkinson, Adrian
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2022
Metadata
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Purpose: Grounded in the job demands–resources (JD-R) theory, this study investigates how the difficulty in social distancing at work, resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, may lead to intention to quit and career regret and how and when these effects may be attenuated. Design/methodology/approach: Three-wave survey data were collected from 223 frontline service workers in a large restaurant company during the COVID-19 crisis. Findings: The results show that difficulty in social distancing reduced employees' work engagement, and consequently, increased their turnover intention and career regret. These relationships were moderated ...
View more >Purpose: Grounded in the job demands–resources (JD-R) theory, this study investigates how the difficulty in social distancing at work, resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, may lead to intention to quit and career regret and how and when these effects may be attenuated. Design/methodology/approach: Three-wave survey data were collected from 223 frontline service workers in a large restaurant company during the COVID-19 crisis. Findings: The results show that difficulty in social distancing reduced employees' work engagement, and consequently, increased their turnover intention and career regret. These relationships were moderated by external employability, such that the influence of difficulty in social distancing weakened as external employability increased. Originality/value: Social distancing measures have been applied across the globe to minimize transmission of COVID-19. However, such measures create a new job demand for service workers who find it difficult to practice social distancing due to the high contact intensity of service delivery. This study identified personal resources that help service workers cope with the demand triggered by COVID-19.
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View more >Purpose: Grounded in the job demands–resources (JD-R) theory, this study investigates how the difficulty in social distancing at work, resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, may lead to intention to quit and career regret and how and when these effects may be attenuated. Design/methodology/approach: Three-wave survey data were collected from 223 frontline service workers in a large restaurant company during the COVID-19 crisis. Findings: The results show that difficulty in social distancing reduced employees' work engagement, and consequently, increased their turnover intention and career regret. These relationships were moderated by external employability, such that the influence of difficulty in social distancing weakened as external employability increased. Originality/value: Social distancing measures have been applied across the globe to minimize transmission of COVID-19. However, such measures create a new job demand for service workers who find it difficult to practice social distancing due to the high contact intensity of service delivery. This study identified personal resources that help service workers cope with the demand triggered by COVID-19.
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Journal Title
Journal of Service Theory and Practice
Volume
32
Issue
2
Subject
Public health
Occupational and workplace health and safety
Social Sciences
Management
Business & Economics
Social distancing