Authors : Eric Kibet Sambu

Volume/Issue : Volume 9 - 2024, Issue 2 - February

Google Scholar : http://tinyurl.com/87a8hrcv

Scribd : http://tinyurl.com/yb7ssrx4

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10700551

Abstract : Covid-19 resulted in many restrictions in movement and brought the normal lifestyle to a standstill. Workers were like serving prison sentences at home, detention without trial. This had a huge impact on mental health and wellbeing. This paper therefore explores the situation and attempts to highlight the causes of stress especially during the pandemic period. It is a qualitative study that reviewed the regulations, measures to contain the pandemic, observation and complemented this with interviews on participants selected using convenient and purposive sampling. The study concludes that the measures to contain the pandemic caused stress to the workers. The key driver was fear of contracting the disease, driven by the negative news then, both in the mainstream and social media. There was also fear of losing their jobs and livelihoods. Being in one place for a long time also contributed and being together with close family members for long was another factor. It recommends preparedness and counselling capacity so that such a pandemic does not have such a magnitude of stress. The workers need to sieve information and rely on reliable sources to contain fear.

Keywords : Covid-19 Pandemic; Workplace; Stress Management; Mental Health.