Workplace infection control measures and perceived organizational support during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

ObjectiveWe investigated whether workplace infection control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic could increase perceived organizational support (POS).MethodsThis prospective cohort study was conducted in Japan from December 2020 to December 2021 using a questionnaire survey. There were 18,560 respondents at follow-up; we investigated 4,971 who rated low POS at baseline. The participants were asked a single question about POS and nine about workplace infection control measures. We determined the odds ratios (ORs) of high POS at follow-up using multilevel logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe groups of 5–6 (OR=1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.57; P=0.014) and 7–9 workplace infection control measures (OR=1.54; 95% CI, 1.28–1.85; P<0.001) had significantly higher ORs than the group with 0–2 measures.ConclusionsHealth support for employees through workplace infection control measures can increase POS.

Workplace vaccination opportunity against COVID-19 contributed to high perceived organizational support of employees in Japan: A prospective cohort study

“…When workplace vaccination opportunities were offered, we found that POS increased more among participants with low baseline POS, and decreased less among those with high baseline POS, than when these opportunities were not offered. These changes remained significant when we adjusted for workplace infection prevention measures, suggesting that the effect is independent of the increase in POS resulting from workplace infection prevention measures that was reported in a previous study 8 …”

“…In this study, we found that implementing more infection control measures in the workplace was associated with more vaccination opportunities. It has already been reported that proactiveness in workplace infection control measures leads to improved POS 8 . The level of infection control measures in the workplace could therefore have been a confounding factor in the relationship between vaccination opportunities and POS.…”

“…A previous study reported that workplace infection control measures could improve POS during the COVID-19 pandemic. 8 As a possible confounder, we asked participants at the baseline to choose whether each of the following nine workplace infection control measures had been implemented: prohibition or restriction of business trips; prohibition or restriction of visitors; prohibition on holding social gatherings and meals, or limiting the number of people participating; restriction on face-to-face meetings; requirement to always wear masks during working hours; installation of partitions and change in workplace layout; recommendation of daily temperature checks; recommendation to telecommute; and asking employees not to attend the workplace when sick. We classified the number of workplace infection control measures implemented into four categories: 0-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-9.…”

“…During the COVID‐19 pandemic, employers' efforts to protect employees from infection may increase POS in situations where employees are concerned. For example, improved infection control measures in the workplace were related to improvements in POS 8 . The implementation of workplace vaccination programs was voluntary, rather than a legal obligation of employers.…”

“…For example, improved infection control measures in the workplace were related to improvements in POS. 8 The implementation of workplace vaccination programs was voluntary, rather than a legal obligation of employers. The provision of vaccination opportunities by companies may therefore have had a favorable impact on employees' POS.…”