WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND CONCERNS OF HEALTH WORKERS DURING COVID-19

Abstract

Healthcare workers are on the front lines and are directly responsible for the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients suffering from COVID-19. This study is based on investigating the work-life balance concerns of health workers during the outbreak of COVID-19. It was found that the health workers generally work for long and tedious working hours in the hospitals and also there came an additional responsibility of maintaining and recording of data of the COVID patients. As per the nature and duty of their work, we find that there has been a long separation between the health workers and their family and friends which in turn disturbs their personal and professional lives leading to immense stress. It was found that their morale went down considerably, and the issue of balancing between work and life was extremely challenging, especially for the female health workers having young children. The ever-increasing number of suspected and confirmed cases, extended shifts, overwhelming workload, coupled with increased severity and volume of patients, widespread media coverage, lack of specific drugs, financial instability, job insecurity, the fear of carrying the infection at home or office, inability to visit family and friends may all contribute to the mental burden in the modern day health workers. To prevent the occurrence of these events, there is a high need to balance work and life among the front-line workers. Health workers as well as organizations must work together in tandem to balance work and life and hence preserve the health of these front-line workers