A Gender Wise Analysis of Work Experiences of Private Sector Employees During Pandemic

Article Information

Title: A Gender Wise Analysis of Work Experiences of Private Sector Employees During Pandemic

Authors: Samina Riaz, Faseha Khalid, Naveed Iqbal, Fareeha Anjum

Journal: Journal of Business and Management Research (JBMR)

HEC Recognition History

Category	From	To
Y	2024-10-01	2025-12-31
Y	2023-07-01	2024-09-30

Publisher: GO GREEN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

Country: Pakistan

Year: 2024

Volume: 3

Issue: 1

Language: English

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has acutely affected worldwide economy. The purpose of this research was to explore experiences of private sector employees during pandemic. For this research qualitative research design was used. To gather the information Interviews were conducted. Semi-structured interview protocol was used for conducting interviews. Six participants were selected through purposive sampling. Participants were selected from private education sectors, banking, NGO and multinational company. Transcribed interviews were analyzed by thematic analysis. The findings of this study showed that COVID -19 has affected private organizations as they faced low production rate resultantly profit ratio was also reduced. To overcome the financial burden organizations either fired their employees or delayed payment of salaries for couple of months. The findings of study showed those who were not on permanent positions and employed recently got fired from theirs jobs to manage organizational economic burden. The study showed that both males as well as females faced social mobility restrictions during pandemic and males felt more stress due to this social restriction. It also exhibits that organizations changed their work mode and showed compliance with Government policies to cope up with the pandemic situation. This study would be helpful in understanding issues faced by employees of private organizations so in future if the situation processed or continues then organizations can help their employees by giving them secure jobs and devise strategies to minimize economic burden on their employees.
Keywords: Gender Inequalities, Workplace experiences, Pandemic, Private sector, Employees

Disclaimer: The following sections are produced through an intensive multi-stage analytical pipeline developed by DefinePK, utilizing advanced natural-language processing, domain-specific knowledge models, and automated cross-referencing systems. Despite the rigor and computational effort involved, the generated summary may still contain inaccuracies or incomplete interpretations. Users are strongly advised to verify all critical information against the original paper and its authoritative sources.

Research Objective

To explore the experiences of private sector employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, analyze its impact on both genders at the workplace, and understand the organizational strategies adopted.

Methodology

Qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews with six purposively selected participants from various private sectors in Lahore, Pakistan. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the transcribed interviews.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD;
    A["Define Research Objective"] --> B["Select Qualitative Research Design"];
    B --> C["Conduct Semi-structured Interviews"];
    C --> D["Purposive Sampling of 6 Participants"];
    D --> E["Transcribe Interviews"];
    E --> F["Thematic Analysis"];
    F --> G["Identify Key Themes"];
    G --> H["Formulate Findings"];
    H --> I["Discuss and Conclude"];

Discussion

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the socio-economic status and exposed gender inequalities in Pakistan. Organizations resorted to downsizing and other strategies to mitigate economic burdens. The study highlights the differential impact of the pandemic on male and female employees, particularly concerning job security, professional challenges, and psychological well-being.

Key Findings

Organizations faced economic challenges, leading to low production rates, reduced profits, employee layoffs, and delayed salary payments. Non-permanent and recently hired employees were most affected. Both genders experienced social mobility restrictions, with males reporting higher stress levels. Organizations adapted by changing work modes and complying with government policies. Females experienced more job insecurity and psychological stress compared to males.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic created significant economic and professional challenges for private sector employees in Pakistan, with women facing greater job insecurity and psychological distress. Organizations adopted various strategies to cope, including workforce reduction and compliance with government regulations. The findings underscore the need for organizations to develop strategies to secure jobs and mitigate economic burdens on employees during future crises.

Fact Check

1. The first case of the pandemic was reported in Pakistan on February 26, 2020. (Confirmed by text)
2. During the pandemic, Pakistan lost one-third of its earnings, and trades fell by 50 percent. (Confirmed by text)
3. The study involved six participants from different private sectors in Lahore. (Confirmed by text)

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