There and back again. Examining the development of employee commitment during a prolonged crisis
Rachel E Gifford1, Frank C van de Baan1, Daan Westra1
1Department of Health Services Research, Care and Public Health Research Institute(CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
SSM. Qualitative Research in Health
|February 8, 2022
Summary
Hospital staff commitment to COVID-19 crisis response initially high, but decreased in the second wave due to competing demands, burnout, and lack of support. Understanding this shift is crucial for healthcare crisis management.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Organizational Psychology
- Crisis Response
Background:
- Healthcare organizations depend on workforce commitment for crisis adaptation.
- Limited understanding exists on how employee commitment evolves during crises.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and understand the temporal development of hospital staff commitment during the COVID-19 crisis.
- To identify factors influencing shifts in commitment over time.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory case study in a heavily impacted region of the Netherlands.
- Interviews with hospital executives, management, medical, and support staff.
Main Results:
- Initial high commitment to COVID-19 response observed.
- Perceived decrease in staff commitment during the second wave.
- Key factors identified: competing demands, energy depletion, lack of support/appreciation.
Conclusions:
- Staff willingness to dedicate resources to crisis response decreased as other commitments became more prominent.
- Findings advance understanding of employee workplace commitment during healthcare crises.
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