Forced Digitization due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Shaping Working Conditions in the Post-Pandemic World?
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Occupational Safety and Health".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2023) | Viewed by 686
Special Issue Editor
Interests: occupational mental health under COVID-19; environmentally responsible behavior of workers in the workplace; the strategic behaviors of CEOs and top management teams; entrepreneurs’ perception; intention and behavior under uncertainty
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The process of digitization began years ago in various industrial sectors; however, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this development significantly. To protect and improve the wellbeing of workers during this unexpected health crisis, many businesses around of the world have been forced to reorganize their production system, redesign their operations, and move towards more digitalized business models [1]. Due to the new wave of digitization, many time-consuming processes and work steps have been eliminated, making businesses more agile. In many service-based companies, digitization of working processes allowed for a higher level of flexibility in people’s working conditions. In many cases, companies have been obliged to adopt online business models and digitization of customer interactions, greater investment in communication software platforms, telecommuting or remote working opportunities, embrace digital technologies, and prioritize digital investments for supply chains. On the other hand, forced digitization of workplaces decreased the level of physical interaction between coworkers, worsened the work–life balance, harmed employees’ privacy, and increased the fear of unemployment, especially for non-tech workers [2–4]. By considering both the negative and positive impacts of forced digitization on workers and businesses in the post-pandemic world, this Special Issue aimed to answer some of the following research questions:
- How may forced digitization impact occupational mental health, occupational safety, workers’ wellbeing and happiness, workplace conflict, and work–life balance in the post-pandemic world?
- What are the likely impacts of forced digitization on precarious workers, women, and minority groups in the post-pandemic world?
- What are the likely impacts of forced digitization on the probability of burnout, cyberbullying, occupational safety, and employees' mindfulness?
- How might forced digitization affect corporate social performance, and the business environmental performance?
- Can forced digitization create new entrepreneurial opportunities for businesses in the post-pandemic world?
Original research articles, case studies and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to):
- Forced digitization of the workplace.
- Occupational mental health and stress due to digitization.
- Digital stressors in the workplace.
- The environmental impact of forced digitization.
- The psychological impact of digitization on workers.
- Workplaces post-pandemic: a new business model.
- Forced digitization and work–life balance post-pandemic.
- Forced digitization and workers’ wellbeing and happiness.
- Forced digitization and precarious workers, women, and minority groups in the post-pandemic world.
- Forced digitization and corporate social performance.
- Forced digitization and new entrepreneurial opportunities.
- Forced digitization and customers, students, and small business owners.
I look forward to receiving your contributions.
References
- Park, J.; Montiel, I.; Husted, B.W.; Balarezo, R. The Grand Challenge of Human Health: A Review and an Urgent Call for Business–Health Research. Soc. 2022, 61, 1353–1415. https://doi.org/10.1177/00076503211073519.
- Kirby, L.D.; Qian, W.; Adiguzel, Z.; Afshar Jahanshahi, A.; Barkracheva, M.; Orejarena Ballestats, M.C.; Cruz, J.F.A.; Dash, A.; Dias, C.; Ferreira, M.J.; et al. Appraisal and coping predict health and well‐being during the COVID‐19 pandemic: An International Approach. J. Psychol. 2022, 57, 49–62. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12770.
- Sun, S.; Zhang, X.S.; Afshar Jahanshahi, A.; Jahanshahi, M. Drilling under the COVID-19 pandemic: A diary study of professional football players' mental health and workout performance. Stress health. 2022, 38, 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3059.
- Afshar Jahanshahi, A.; Rivas Mendoza, M.I.; Rodriguez, O.A.V. Socially responsible behaviors in extreme contexts: comparing cases of economic sanctions, COVID-19 pandemic, and internal war. : Sci. Pract. Policy. 2021, 17, 414–427. https://doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2021.2003992.
Dr. Asghar Afshar Jahanshahi
Guest Editor
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