Examining Pandemic Response Strategies: Perspectives from the Social Service Workforce

While many studies have explored the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers, there is limited information on the experiences of social workers. This study aimed to examine how social service employees perceived the workplace's pandemic response to identify well-received initiatives and areas for improvement. Data was collected using an anonymous online 21-question survey on REDcap. The forty-participant sample identified as female (57.5%), Asian (85%), and aged 18–34 (55%). Participants worked remote (42.5%), hybrid (40%), or in-person (15%). The organization's pandemic response was perceived positively as effective (40%) or very effective (45%). Factors of pandemic response with the highest efficacy were provision of PPE (55%) and immediacy of efforts (50%). Remote workers had a significantly higher positive assessment of the organization's communication than hybrid or in-person employees (p = 0.0223). Safety was the primary concern among the entire workforce (88.2%). The most frequent source of COVID-19 information was the CDC (35%), and medical professionals (2.5%) were the least. This qualitative study's overall positive evaluation of the pandemic response provides insight into effective measures to prepare organizations for future public health emergencies. Future research investigating an organization's pandemic response can enhance employee well-being and advance quality improvement in pandemic response efforts.