UCC team to look at impact of COVID-19 related work disruption on people

Researchers at University College Cork (UCC) are hoping to capture the stories and experiences of people whose work has been disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis for a new study.

A group of researchers at the University interested in work and welfare including Dr Joe Whelan, Dr Fiona Dukelow and Dr Tom Boland have launched a new online survey which will look at how people have spent their time since the COVID-19 crisis, their hopes for the future in terms of work and employment, and their opinions on work/life balance in light of the crisis.

It will also ask people what they think of the government response to the loss of jobs in the crisis.

They are now hoping to hear from people who have become unemployed, whose work has been disrupted by being put on hold, or who are on reduced hours since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis.

Dr Whelan explained: “We are asking people to tell us about their experiences.

“The more people who get involved the better so that we can give a broad sense of how people are experiencing work disruption.” 

He said that the study was a little different to other studies in that such research is often undertaken after a major event has happened.

“This is attempting to capture stories as they happen,” he said.

Dr Whelan said he hoped the responses would serve as a historical document in the future.

“I believe that this is a period in history that will be looked back on,” he said.

The survey is available online at:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTuKJjCcfJI7aG7gMZEma4ZdqRsLkBnvmL48wTFgLy1TiF2A/formResponse