Adherence to COVID-19 Protocols and Employee Morale

This conference paper was presented at the 3rd International Conference on University, Enterprise, and Society (UES), Madrid, Spain, November 2022. The study examines the relationship between adherence to COVID-19 workplace safety protocols and employee morale. Using a mixed-methods design (N=25), the research compares pre-pandemic and pandemic motivation levels and analyses the impact of mask usage, remote working arrangements, increased workload, and organisational stress on employee engagement. Findings indicate a measurable decline in high motivation levels during the pandemic, alongside increased stress and communication challenges associated with mask-wearing. While extreme demotivation was not reported, results demonstrate a consistent downward shift in morale, highlighting the importance of structured organisational support during crisis conditions. The paper contributes to interdisciplinary research at the intersection of organisational behaviour, workplace communication, and crisis management. This conference paper was subsequently developed into a more comprehensive book chapter:Portuondo, N., & Kelly, M. (2022). The Impact of COVID-19 on Employee Motivation. In Nuevos Estudios en Educación, Arte y Negocios para una Sociedad Diversa. Editorial Fragua.