Managing employees� health, safety and anxiety in a pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: This paper identifies and discusses the strategies adopted by a manufacturing company to manage its national and international employees' anxiety, health and safety with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, to fill a current research gap. Design/methodology/approach: This paper uses the qualitative method to identify the strategies employed by a manufacturing company to manage its employees' anxiety, health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis of data from fourteen semi-structured interviews is presented. Findings: Results from the data analysed show that five strategies that help manage employees' health, safety and anxiety are - enhanced communication, formulation and enforcement of policies, rules and regulation, education and training, and management commitment. The findings indicate that the implementation of these strategies does not lead to a negative effect and therefore can conclude that there was no cobra effect. Research limitations/implications: Although exploratory and based on one organisation; the findings lay the foundation for future theoretically grounded research on management of employees' health, safety and anxiety. Practical implications: Findings could be the basis for training for managers and also be used to modify the strategies applied in managing employees' anxiety, health and safety. Originality/value: This paper investigates and offers insight into the best strategies to adopt to manage employees' anxiety, safety and health during the COVID-19 pandemic in the manufacturing sector. � 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.