Effects of COVID-19 support measures on the subjective health and well-being of employees at state universities from the perspective of experts

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the necessary measures to contain the spread of the disease shaped the living and working situation of many people in 2020/2021. Universities also had to implement measures to protect employees from infection in order to continue research and teaching. These had positive and negative effects on the subjective health and everyday working situation of employees. In order to avoid possible risks in the future in similarly challenging situations or in the continuation of measures, knowledge about health effects is important. Methods: Using a mixed-methods approach, academic professionals and experts of equality, inclusion, health management, and counseling were surveyed using an online questionnaire on the impact of professional support measures in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic on the subjective health and well-being of university employees. Results: A total of 117 experts participated in the quantitative survey. The dissolution of boundaries between private and professional life (71%) and the health behavior of employees (55%) were perceived critically. Most (81%) perceive the collegial interaction as positive. At the same time, the experts see a deterioration in social relations (78%). According to their assessment, the work situation under COVID-19 conditions is mostly manageable (55%), understandable (71%), and reasonable (64%) for the employees. Conclusion: The experts convey a differentiated picture of the situation. There is evidence that the situation is proving to be significantly more challenging for specific groups of employees in higher education than for others. If online teaching and telecommuting are to become established at universities, attention will have to be paid to aspects of social health and dissolution of boundaries between work and private life.