This book contributes toward the understanding of the human experience at work during the pandemic and its implications on employee well-being in the context of Malaysia, a developing economy with its own set of unique challenges. Very little research has been done about this issue to date, particularly in Malaysia. This book aims to bridge this gap by examining the Malaysian perspective of the concept of employee well-being in detail with the overarching goal of serving as a guide toward overcoming the challenges wrought on by the ever-changing post-pandemic environment. Different conditions and experiences are discussed to contextualize the unique ways in which individuals react to difficulties with an emphasis on how organizations can assist at a micro-level to allow employees to overcome such difficulties.
Author(s): Raida Abu Bakar, Rosmawani Che Hashim, Man Chung Low, Mohammad Rezaur Razzak, Sharmila Jayasingam
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 121
City: Singapore
Preface
Contents
About the Authors
1 Pandemic Around the World: The New Norm
1.1 Introduction: The Era of the Pandemic
1.2 Global Experience
1.3 Perspectives of Malaysia
1.4 Conclusion
References
2 I’m So Lost: The Dissonance and Conflict in Me
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Horrifying Pandemic: A New Life
2.3 Feelings and Emotional Dissonance: Why Do I Feel This Way?
2.4 Thinking and Cognitive Dissonance: Why Do I Behave This Way?
2.5 Individual Challenges in Malaysia
2.6 My Wellbeing, My Choice
2.7 Conclusion
References
3 Don’t Struggle in Silence: Let the Laws Do Their Part
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Pandemic—Mental Health Disaster
3.3 Mental Health Priority: Let’s Do This Together
3.4 Mental Health—Let the Law Play Its Roles
3.5 The Malaysian Scenario
3.5.1 Awareness
3.5.2 Mental Health Regulations: How Far Has Malaysia Gone?
3.5.3 Concluding Remark—Wakeup Call for Malaysia
3.6 The United Kingdom’s Approach
3.6.1 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
3.6.2 The Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996)
3.6.3 The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981
3.6.4 Equality Act 2010
3.6.5 Mental Health Act 2007
3.6.6 The Coronavirus Act 2020
3.6.7 Independent Mental Health Advocates
3.6.8 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
3.7 Conclusion
References
4 Will It Ever Go Back to Normal? Working Since the Pandemic: The Changes, Struggles, Supports, and Hopes
4.1 Introduction
4.2 World of Work Since the Pandemic: Case of Malaysia
4.3 Working from Home: The Positives, the Negatives, and the Struggles
4.4 The Pandemic Does not Affect People Equally: Perspectives of the Women
4.5 Government, Organizations and Workers: Strategies in Place and How We Can Do More
4.5.1 Government
4.5.2 Organizations
4.5.3 Workers (Individuals)
4.6 Endemic: Working and Living with the Virus, and Things that Matters
4.7 Conclusion
References
5 Wellbeing of Employees in Family Owned Businesses in the COVID-19 Era: Anecdotal Evidence from Malaysia
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Family Businesses Have a Soul
5.3 Ensuring Employee Safety at All Costs
5.4 Sharing the Pain of Financial Strains with Non-Family Employees
5.5 We Are All in It Together
5.6 When the Going Gets Tough, Family Firms Are the Safest Places to Work
5.7 Conclusion
References
6 The Cloud Over My Social Life
6.1 Introduction
6.2 The Apocalypse
6.3 COVID-19: The Rise of the Pandemic of Social Isolation
6.4 Socialising During the Pre and Post Pandemic: The Malaysian Experience
6.4.1 Pre-COVID Socialising: Malaysian Style
6.4.2 Post-COVID—The Advent of Social Isolation in Malaysia
6.5 A Boon: A Silver Lining in the Dark Cloud
6.5.1 Personality
6.5.2 Motivational Factor
6.5.3 Behavioural Factor
6.6 A Bane: The Fear of Being Left Alone
6.7 Post-COVID: The Re-Entry Anxiety
6.8 The Rise of the Social Butterfly
6.9 Conclusion
References
7 The Perseverance Over Time
7.1 Introduction
7.2 The Individual: What Do I Do?
7.3 The Organisation: What Can Leaders and Peers Do?
7.4 The Government: What Can It Provide and Change?
7.5 The Society: What Shall We Contribute?
7.6 Epilogue
References
