Work during the COVID-19 pandemic – feelings of the investment and construction sector employees in Poland

Katarzyna Pietrzyk; Agnieszka Szczepańska

doi:10.31648/aspal.8102

Published: 2022-12-141

Vol. 21 No. 4 (2022)

Work during the COVID-19 pandemic – feelings of the investment and construction sector employees in Poland

Katarzyna Pietrzyk

, Agnieszka Szczepańska

Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.31648/aspal.8102

Abstract

Motives: The COVID-19 pandemic directly affected the lives of Polish workers. The literature on the subject focuses its attention on the medical sector, security services, education, and commerce.

Aim: In order to broaden the analysis, the impact of the pandemic on the investment and construction sector, closely related to spatial management, was assessed by conducting a questionnaire survey among its workers. The survey was anonymous and conducted remotely via the Microsoft Forms platform. The study sample comprised 109 workers.

Results: The study results show clearly that the pandemic had a significant impact on working life. The negative effects include a deteriorated mental state and a feeling of increased anxiety, problems with the timely completion of investment projects, prolonged working hours, and numerous absences from work. As regards the positive phenomena, the respondents indicated the flexible working hours (remote and hybrid work), the advantages resulting from the accelerated digitisation of the administration (faster acquisition of data), and a change for the better in terms of the forms of communication with superiors and co-workers.

Keywords:

employees, investmend and construction sector, working conditions, work organisation, COVID-19

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Agnieszka Szczepańska, Katarzyna Pietrzyk, PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CITTASLOW TOWNS IN THE REGION OF WARMIA AND MAZURY – THE EXAMPLE OF MORĄG , Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum: Vol. 17 No. 3 (2018)
Małgorzata Gerus-Gościewska, Dariusz Gościewski, Agnieszka Szczepańska, Inclusion of preferences of real estate potential buyers in the space management process as a stimulation of improvement of safety in the urban space , Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum: Vol. 18 No. 1 (2019)
Agnieszka Szczepańska, Małgorzata Gerus-Gościewska, SOCIOECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN OLSZTYN’S SUBURBAN AREAS , Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum: Vol. 16 No. 4 (2017)
Rafał Kaźmierczak, Agnieszka Szczepańska, Augmented reality as a technology that supports the spatial development process , Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum: Vol. 23 No. 1 (2024)

Download files

PDF

Citation rules

Pietrzyk, K., & Szczepańska, A. (2022). Work during the COVID-19 pandemic – feelings of the investment and construction sector employees in Poland. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum, 21(4), 561–572. https://doi.org/10.31648/aspal.8102

Cited by / Share

Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

References

Alam, M. (2020). Organisational processes and COVID-19 pandemic: implications for job design. Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change, 16(4), 599–606. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAOC-08-2020-0121.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Allen, T.D., Golden, T.D., & Shockley, K.M. (2015). How effective is telecommuting? Assessing the status of our scientific findings. Psychological science in the public interest, 16(2), 40–68. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100615593273.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Alsharef, A., Banerjee, S., Uddin, S.M., Albert, A., & Jaselskis, E. (2021). Early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the United States construction industry. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(4), 1559, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041559.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Babicki, M., & Mastalerz-Migas, A. (2020). Występowanie zaburzeń lękowych wśród Polaków w dobie pandemii COVID-19 [Occurrence of anxiety disorders among Poles during the COVID-19 pandemic]. Psychiatria Polska [Polish Psychiatry], 55(3), 497–509. https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/126230.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Bloom, N., Liang, J., Roberts, J., & Ying, Z.J. (2015). Does working from home work? Evidence from a Chinese experiment. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 130(1), 165–218. https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/qju032.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Bolisani, E., Scarso, E., Ipsen, C., Kirchner, K., & Hansen, J.P. (2020). Working from home during COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned and issues. Management & Marketing, 15(s1), 458–476. https://doi.org/10.2478/mmcks-2020-0027.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Borkowska, R., & Rutkowska, M. (2013). Warunki pracy a stres zawodowy i zdrowie pracowników [Working conditions, occupational stress and employees’ health]. Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Oeconomica, 288, 287–294.
Google Scholar

Bsisu, K.A.D. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Jordanian civil engineers and construction industry. International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology, 13(5), 828–830.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Burlacu, S., Patarlageanu, S.R., Diaconu, A., & Ciobanu, G. (2021). E-government in the era of globalization and the health crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic, between standards and innovation. SHS Web of Conferences (Vol. 92). EDP Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/20219208004.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Buselli, R., Corsi, M., Baldanzi, S., Chiumiento, M., Del Lupo, E., Dell’Oste, V., … & Carmassi, C. (2020). Professional quality of life and mental health outcomes among health care workers exposed to Sars-Cov-2 (Covid-19). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public health, 17(17), 6180. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176180.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Chądrzyński, M., Gruziel, K., Kacperska, E., Klusek, T. & Utzig, M. (2021). Polska w dobie cyfryzacji [Poland in the era of digitization]. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo SGGW.
Google Scholar

Chomicki, M., & Mierzejewska, K. (2020). Przygotowanie polskich przedsiębiorstw do świadczenia pracy zdalnej w okresie pandemii COVID-19 [Preparing Polish enterprises to provide remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic]. E-mentor, 5(87), 45–54.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Cullen, W., Gulati, G., & Kelly, B.D. (2020). Mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic. An International Journal of Medicine, 113(5), 311–312. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaa110.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Da, S., Fladmark, S.F., Wara, I., Christensen, M., & Innstrand, S.T. (2022). To Change or Not to Change: A Study of Workplace Change during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(4), 1982. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19041982.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Diab-Bahman, R., & Al-Enzi, A. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on conventional work settings. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 40(9/10), 909–927. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-07-2020-0262.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Dolot, A. (2020). Wpływ pandemii COVID-19 na pracę zdalną – perspektywa pracownika [The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on remote work – the employee’s perspective]. E-mentor, 83(1), 35–43.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Ganczar, M. (2010). Elektroniczna administracja publiczna [Electronic public administration]. In M. Domagała, A. Haładyj, & S. Wrzosek (Eds.). Encyklopedia prawa administracyjnego [Administrative law encyklopedia]. Warszawa.
Google Scholar

Goździewska-Nowicka, A, Modrzyńska, J., & Modrzyński, P. (2020). Teleworking and Remote Work in LocalGovernment Administration Management in Poland. European Research Studies Journal, XXIII (Special Issue 2), 1027–1043, 1034.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Grinin, L., Grinin, A., & Korotayev, A. (2022). COVID-19 pandemic as a trigger for the acceleration of the cybernetic revolution, transition from e-government to e-state, and change in social relations. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 175, 121348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121348.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Heitzman, J. (2020). Wpływ pandemii COVID-19 na zdrowie psychiczne [Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic]. Psychiatria Polska [Polish Psychiatry], 54(2), 187–198. https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/120373.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Hisham, I.N., Townsend, G., Gillard, S., Debnath, B., & Sin, J. (2021). COVID-19: the perfect vector for a mental health epidemic. BJPsych bulletin, 45(6), 332–338. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2020.60.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Hodzic, S., Ravselj, D., & Alibegovic, D.J. (2021). E-Government Effectiveness and Efficiency in EU-28 and COVID-19. Cent. Eur. Pub. Admin. Rev., 19, 159. https://doi.org/10.17573/cepar.2021.1.07.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Iqbal, M., Ahmad, N., Waqas, M., & Abrar, M. (2021). COVID-19 pandemic and construction industry: Impacts, emerging construction safety practices, and proposed crisis management. Brazilian Journal of Operations & Production Management, 18(2), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.14488/BJOPM.2021.034.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Jallow, H., Renukappa, S., & Suresh, S. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 outbreak on United Kingdom infrastructure sector. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 10(4), 581–593. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-05-2020-0068.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Javed, B., Sarwer, A., Soto, E.B., & Mashwani, Z.U.R. (2020). Impact of SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) pandemic on public mental health. Frontiers in public health, 8, 292. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00292.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Kaushik, M., & Guleria, N. (2020). The impact of pandemic COVID-19 in workplace. European Journal of Business and Management, 12(15), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.7176/EJBM/12-15-02.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Kolasińska, E. (2021). Praca zdalna wpisana w pandemię COVID-19 [Remote work in the COVID-19 pandemic]. In W. Gumuła (Ed.). Dzienniki stanu pandemii (czytane z perspektywy socjologii codzienności) [Diaries of the state of the pandemic (read from the perspective of the sociology of everyday life)] (pp. 187–305). Kraków: Zakład Wydawniczy Nomos.
Google Scholar

Kramer, A., & Kramer, K.Z. (2020). The potential impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on occupational status, work from home, and occupational mobility. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 119, 103442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103442.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Księska-Koszałka, J. (2021). Psychologiczne konsekwencje pandemii COVID-19 [Psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic]. In W. Nowak, & K. Szalonka (Eds.). Zdrowie i style życia. Ekonomiczne, społeczne i zdrowotne skutki pandemii [Health and Lifestyles. Economic, social and health effects of a pandemic] (pp. 47–57). E-Wydawnictwo. https://doi.org/10.34616/142078.
Google Scholar

Lancet, T. (2020). The plight of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet (London, England), 395(10237), 1587. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31200-9.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Li, J.Y., Sun, R., Tao, W., & Lee, Y. (2021). Employee coping with organizational change in the face of a pandemic: The role of transparent internal communication. Public Relations Review, 47(1), 101984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2020.101984.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Lubrańska, A. (2021). Życie w cieniu pandemii–psychologiczne konsekwencje w sferze pracy [Life overshadowed by a pandemic – psychological consequences in the sphere of work]. Horyzonty Wychowania [Education Horizons], 20(55), 27–36. https://doi.org/10.35765/hw.2099.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Meyer, B., Zill, A., Dilba, D., Gerlach, R., & Schumann, S. (2021). Employee psychological well‐being during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Germany: A longitudinal study of demands, resources, and exhaustion. International Journal of Psychology, 56(4), 532–550. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12743.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Mierzejewska, K., & Chomicki, M. (2020). Psychospołeczne aspekty pracy zdalnej. Wyniki badań przeprowadzonych w trakcie trwania pandemii COVID-19 [Psychosocial aspects of remote work. The results of studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic]. Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego w Krakowie [Cracow Review of Economics and Management], 3(987), 31–44. https://doi.org/10.15678/ZNUEK.2020.0987.0302.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Mierzwińska, L., Łapka, M., & Uliasz, K. (2021). Pandemia COVID-19 a zmiany w obszarze środowiska pracy w opinii pracowników–wyniki badań empirycznych [The COVID-19 pandemic and changes in the area of the work environment in the opinion of employees – the results of empirical research]. In A. Barwińska-Małajowicz, & M. Grzebyk (Eds.). Przedsiębiorczość w dobie kryzysu COVID-19. Lekcja na przyszłość [Entrepreneurship in the times of the COVID-19 crisis. A lesson for the future] (pp. 59–76). SIZ.
Google Scholar

Miłek, D., & Nowak, P. (2021). Rozwój usług elektronicznej administracji publicznej w Polsce na tle Unii Europejskiej [Development of electronic public administration services in Poland against the background of the European Union]. Nierówności społeczne a wzrost gospodarczy [Social inequalities and economic growth], 65, 47–73. https://doi.org/10.15584/nsawg.2021.1.3.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Młokosiewicz, M. (2018). Stres w miejscu pracy a potencjał pracowników [Stress in the workplace and the potential of employees]. Studia i Prace WNEiZ US [Studies and Works of WNEiZ US], 51/2, 235–247. https://doi.org/10.18276/sip.2018.51/2-20.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Muller, A.E., Hafstad, E.V., Himmels, J.P.W., Smedslund, G., Flottorp, S., Stensland, S. O., … & Vist, G.E. (2020). The mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers, and interventions to help them: A rapid systematic review. Psychiatry Research, 293, 113441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113441.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Niebuhr, F., Borle, P., Borner-Zobel, F., &Voelter-Mahlknecht, S. (2022). Healthy and Happy Working from Home? Effects of Working from Home on Employee Health and Job Satisfaction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1122. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031122.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Ogunnusi, M., Hamma-Adama, M., Salman, H., & Kouider, T. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic: the effects and prospects in the construction industry. International Journal of Real Estate Studies, 14(2), 120–128.
Google Scholar

Olearczyk, A., & Walewska-Zielecka, B. (2021). Wpływ pandemii COVID-19 na wybrane obszary zdrowia, stylu życia I samopoczucia pracowników w Polsce [The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on selected areas of health, lifestyle and well-being of employees in Poland]. In W. Nowak, & K. Szalonka (Eds.). Zdrowie i style życia. Ekonomiczne, społeczne i zdrowotne skutki pandemii [Health and Lifestyles. Economic, social and health effects of a pandemic] (pp. 59–68). E-Wydawnictwo. https://doi.org/10.34616/142080.
Google Scholar

Pamidimukkala, A., & Kermanshachi, S. (2021). Impact of Covid-19 on field and office workforce in construction industry. Project Leadership and Society, 2, 100018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plas.2021.100018.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Parent-Lamarche, A. (2022). Teleworking, Work Engagement, and Intention to Quit during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Same Storm, Different Boats?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1267. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031267.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Perez-Morote, R., Pontones-Rosa, C., & Nunez-Chicharro, M. (2020). The effects of e-government evaluation, trust and the digital divide in the levels of e-government use in European countries. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 154, 119973. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.119973.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Prochazka, J., Scheel, T., Pirozek, P., Kratochvil, T., Civilotti, C., Bollo, M., & Maran, D.A. (2020). Data on work-related consequences of COVID-19 pandemic for employees across Europe. Data in Brief, 32, 106174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.106174.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Pyżalski, J., Puchalski, K., & Korzeniowska, E. (2008). Promocja zdrowia psychicznego w miejscu pracy w Polsce [Mental health promotion in the workplace in Poland]. In K. Okulicz-Kozaryn, & K. Ostaszewski (Eds.). Promocja zdrowia psychicznego, badania i działania w Polsce [Mental health promotion, research and activities in Poland] (pp. 33-51). Warszawa: Instytut Psychiatrii i Neurologii.
Google Scholar

Richter, D., Riedel-Heller, S., & Zuercher, S. (2021). Mental health problems in the general population during and after the first lockdown phase due to the SARSCov-2 pandemic: rapid review of multi-wave studies. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796021000160.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Rogowska, D. (2020). Rola zdrowego środowiska pracy w kontekście funkcjonowania pracowników w organizacji [The role of a healthy work environment in the context of the functioning of employees in the organization. Zarys problematyki. Edukacja Ustawiczna Dorosłych [Outline of the problem. Continuing education of adults], 110(3), 161–170. https://doi.org/10.34866/rke8-pr86.
Google Scholar

Rozhkova, D., Rozhkova, N., & Blinova, U. (2021). Development of the e-Government in the Context of the 2020 Pandemics. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, 1352. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71782-7_41.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Rudolph, C.W., Allan, B., Clark, M., Hertel, G., Hirschi, A., Kunze, F., … & Zacher, H. (2021). Pandemics: Implications for research and practice in industrial and organizational psychology. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 14(1–2), 1–35. https://doi.org/10.1017/iop.2020.48.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Rybarczyk, I., & Koweszko, T. (2021). Zespoł stresu pourazowego, ryzyko samobojcze, poczucie samotności oraz satysfakcja z życia u osob w ogolnej populacji w dobie pandemii Covid-19 [Post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide risk, loneliness and life satisfaction in general population during the Covid-19 pandemic]. Psychiatria [Psychiatry]. https://doi.org/10.5603/PSYCH.a2021.0044.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Safety and health at the heart of the future of work. Building on 100 years of experience. (2019). International Labour Organisation,nhttps://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/documents/publication/wcms_686645.pdf [01.04.2022].
Google Scholar

Saragih, I.D., Tonapa, S.I., Saragih, I.S., Advani, S., Batubara, S.O., Suarilah, I., & Lin, C.J. (2021). Global prevalence of mental health problems among healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 121, 104002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104002.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Spoorthy, M.S., Pratapa, S.K., & Mahant, S. (2020). Mental health problems faced by healthcare workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic–A review. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 51, 102119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102119.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Szcześniak, D., Gładka, A., Misiak, B., Cyran, A., & Rymaszewska, J. (2021). The SARS-CoV-2 and mental health: From biological mechanisms to social consequences. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 104, 110046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110046.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Talarowska, M., Chodkiewicz, J., Nawrocka, N., Miniszewska, J., & Biliński, P. (2020). Mental health and the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic—Polish research study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(19), 7015. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197015.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Tlatlik, J. (2020). Znaczenie informacji o stanie zdrowia pracownikow dla zapewnienia przez pracodawcę bezpiecznych warunkow pracy [The importance of information on the health status of employees for the employer to ensure safe working conditions]. Folia Iuridica Universitatis Wratislaviensis, 9(1), 219–231. https://doi.org/10.34616/fiuw.2020.1.219.231.
Google Scholar

Usher, K., Durkin, J., & Bhullar, N. (2020). The COVID‐19 pandemic and mental health impacts. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(3), 315. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12726
Crossref
Google Scholar

Uścińska, G. (2021). ICT Solutions in the Activities of the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) as an
Crossref
Google Scholar

E-Administration. Evolution During the COVID-19 Epidemic (Case Study). Problemy Zarządzania [Management Problems], 19(3(93)), 73–99. https://doi.org/10.7172/1644-9584.93.4.
Crossref
Google Scholar

WHO (2001). Strengthening mental health promotion. Geneva, World Health Organization (Fact sheet, No. 220). Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs220/en/ [01.04.2022].
Google Scholar

Włodyka, E. (2021). Dlaczego potrzebujemy e-administracji? Rozwoj podstawowych umiejętności cyfrowych pracownikow administracji na Pomorzu Zachodnim [Why do we need e-government? Development of basic digital skills of administration employees in Western Pomerania]. Acta Politica Polonica, 2(52), 89–100. https://doi.org/10.18276/ap. 2021.52-08.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Wontorczyk, A., & Rożnowski, B. (2022). Remote, Hybrid, and On-Site Work during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and the Consequences for Stress and Work Engagement. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(4), 2400. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042400.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Wybrane aspekty rynku pracy w Polsce. Aktywność ekonomiczna ludności przed i w czasie pandemii COVID-19 [Selected aspects of the labor market in Poland. Economic activity of the population before and during the COVID-19 pandemic]. (2021). Statistics Poland, Warszawa.
Google Scholar

Xiong, J., Lipsitz, O., Nasri, F., Lui, L. M., Gill, H., Phan, L., … & McIntyre, R. S. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 277, 55–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.001.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Yu, J., Park, J., & Hyun, S.S. (2021). Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on employees’ work stress, well-being, mental health, organizational citizenship behavior, and employee-customer identification. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 30(5), 529–548. https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2021.1867283.
Crossref
Google Scholar