ERIC Number: EJ1444808
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1350-293X
EISSN: EISSN-1752-1807
Available Date: N/A
Employees' Perception of the Impacts of Global Health Crisis on Work Performance and Sentiments about Future Career: The Case of Early Childhood Education
European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, v32 n5 p721-738 2024
Frontline workers who offered essential services in different industries during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic faced enormous challenges. This study presents the outcome of a survey that investigates employees' sentiments, perceptions, and ergonomics in early childhood education while weathering the pandemic storms during in-person opening amidst the global health crisis. The results show that employees faced increased workload, psychological burden, and heightened uncertainty about health and social life as the pandemic raged. The teaching and non-teaching staff attributed the increased workload to additional paperwork requirements and worker shortages due to quarantine and self-isolation. Public health safety became a priority at the preschool to keep the students, staff, and their families safe. Despite the uncertain future, employees were resolute about career choices in early childhood education. The 'family advocacy' services, a unit that liaises with families to improve kids' learning outcomes, utilized virtual communication technology during the pandemic (e.g. Zoom and Microsoft Teams) to limit physical contact, which produced positive results, including significant improvement in productivity, performance efficiency, and quality. Most workers remained hopeful about overcoming the prevailing workplace challenges caused by the pandemic.
Descriptors: Teacher Attitudes, COVID-19, Pandemics, Job Performance, Futures (of Society), Early Childhood Teachers, In Person Learning, Faculty Workload, Mental Health, Physical Health, Social Life, Career Choice, Parent Teacher Cooperation, Computer Mediated Communication, Barriers, Health Behavior, School Personnel, Safety, Elementary Schools, Social Isolation, Teacher Shortage
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A