COVID-19 and Hotel Productivity Changes: An Empirical Analysis Using Malmquist Productivity Index

This research investigates the impact of COVID-19 on hotel productivity change using the Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI). For 26 U.S. hotel brands, productivity changes over 10 quarters from the first quarter of 2018 to the second quarter of 2020 were analyzed. After the COVID-19 outbreak, the investigated hotels’ productivity deteriorated. Decomposition revealed that, whereas technical efficiency change (EC) improved, technological change (TC) regressed, resulting in deterioration of the MPI. The investigated hotels’ EC-related practices included enhanced cleaning operations, partnering with a hygiene brand, cutting the workforce, and pay cuts. Practices related to TC included the adoption of new hygiene technology and setting a new standard at the organizational level through the formation of a global council and accreditation related to disinfection and hygiene. Our results show that though U.S. hotels are trying to improve their productivity by efficiently utilizing resources, frontier technology’s regress is decreasing productivity. Our results support the importance of investment in technology for productivity management. This research provides empirical evidence for the need for hotels to pursue technological advances to overcome the pandemic.

Need to downsize? Your future employees may like the idea of cutting pay more

PurposeStudies comparing the consequences of payroll cost reduction methods (i.e. cutting pay and downsizing) have been limited, with no studies comparing these methods' impact on job-seeker attraction. The current research tries to close this gap by comparing the effects of cutting pay and downsizing on job-seeker attraction outcomes.Design/methodology/approachTwo studies are conducted. The first study compares the effects of the two payroll cost reduction methods (i.e. cutting pay vs downsizing) on job-seeker attraction through a within-subject design experiment of people in the United States. The second study analyzes secondary data in South Korea to compare the two methods' effects on the number of job applicants applying for job openings.FindingsThe results demonstrate that organizations with a history of pay cuts yield more favorable job-seeker attraction outcomes than organizations with a history of downsizing.Practical implicationsAlthough firms that choose to downsize may better maintain the morale of surviving employees, the decision of downsizing can have long-term costs, such as having a worse capability to attract job-applicants than firms that choose to cut pay and share the pain as a group.Originality/valueThe research provides an insight into which payroll cost reduction method yields better outcomes in terms of job-seeker attraction. The research responds to the call in the payroll cost reduction method literature of identifying a feasible alternative to downsizing in terms of various outcomes other than the morale of current (or remaining) employees.

Whose pay should be cut in economic crises? Consumers prefer firms that prioritize paying employees over CEOs

Four experiments examine the impact of a firm deciding to no longer pay salaries for executives versus employees on consumer behavior, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Study 1 explores the effect of announcing either pay cessations or continued pay for either CEO or employees, and shows that firms’ commitment to maintaining employee pay leads to the most positive consumer reactions. Study 2 examines the effects of simultaneously announcing employee and CEO pay cessations: consumers respond most positively to firms prioritizing employee pay, regardless of their strategy for CEO pay. Moreover, these positive perceptions are mediated by perceptions of financial pain to employees, more than perceptions of CEO-to-worker pay ratio fairness. Study 3, using an incentive-compatible design, shows that firms’ commitment to paying employees their full wages matters more to consumers than cuts to executive pay, even when those executive pay cuts lead to a lower CEO-to-worker pay ratio. Study 4 tests our account in a non-COVID-19 context, and shows that consumers continue to react favorably to firms that maintain employee pay, but when loss is less salient, consumers prioritize cutting CEO pay and lowering the CEO-to-worker pay ratio. We discuss the implications of our results for firms and policymakers during economic crises.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR

A deadly virus has forced entire mankind to be confined to their homes. While many businesses were permanently shut, most others are still trying to sustain this less profit-generating period. Numerous workers are facing pay-cuts or job loss. This theoretically implies a major impact on the economies of countries with purchasing power of customers reduced due to lower income and supply chain disruption due to strict curbs. However, industries based on Information Technology, e-commerce, dairy products etc, thrived and continued to meet consumers’ demands. This particular study aims to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on consumer behavior. The impact shall be studied with respect to various parameters such as gender, age, income etc of consumers.

Burn Care in Kirtipur Hospital before and during COVID 19 Pandemic: Survey of Psychological Issues and Practice Behaviours of Burn Care Personnel

Introduction: The COVID 19 pandemic has adversely impacted all aspects of health care throughout the world. Burn care in lower and middle income countries has suffered the most. We aimed to compare burn care at Kirtipur Hospital before and during the pandemic and explore psychological issues and practice behaviour among burn care worker (BCW). Methods: Retrospective data analysis of burn patients admitted during April to August of 2019 and 2020 was done. Internet based survey of BCW was done. Results: Burn admissions, demographics and characteristics did not change. Fewer surgeries were undertaken in 2020. Almost half of the BCW worked 12 hours shift or longer. Most were working on half pay. Nearly everyone was using hand sanitizers, hand washing and masks. Few had access to level II personal protective equipments (PPE) to see suspected patients; fewer had access to face shield, KN 95 masks and boot. Even gloves and caps were scarce. Many feared getting themselves or family members infected. Majority realized the need of clear hospital policy on how they would be managed when infected. Conclusion: Number, types, severity and mortality did not change. Number of surgeries decreased. Issues like pay cuts, longer working hours and lack of PPEs were reported by majority. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2021; 39: 241-248

Impact of Second Wave Covid -19 on Daily Wage Earners

The impact of Second Wave COVID-19 Pandemic on the lives of Daily Wage Earners has been largely devasted at unprecedented levels during the Lockdown and it has driven our economy to recession. India’s COVID-19 cases have once again penetrated to increase in numbers with every passing day. With the rise in number of COVID-19 cases, at the same time increase the rate of death especially the people who are affected by COVID-19. As Government imposing Curfews, once again the Daily Wage Earners are facing uncertainty. Daily Wage Earners include construction workers, street vendors, painters, weightlifting, masons, Rickshaw-puller and many more. This informal sector workers does not have necessary resources for survival. Wages play an important role in maintaining the livelihood as they rely on their Daily Wages. This results in decrease of purchasing power due to job losses or pay cuts. The level of anxiety and fear has increased among the lives of Daily Wage Earners. The pandemic has worsened the condition of Daily Wage Earners as it has put the risk of facing extreme poverty. The workers fighting on two fronts of life: Firstly, to protect themselves from pandemic threat and Secondly to battle for survival. This study will elucidate the difficulties outbrave by the Daily Wage Earners. A survey was taken among 150 Daily Wage Earners to derive the problems come across by them. The research work is based on primary source of data collected by direct questionnaire to the Daily Wage Earners of Jorhat District of Assam.

JOB SECURITY CRISIS AT THE HOTEL INDUSTRY TOWARDS INTENTION TO QUIT DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The emergence of the COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia last year has caused the tourism industry to be squeezed with various challenges. Based on current statistics for 2019 which recorded an increase in foreign tourist arrival of 2.7 percent, with an increase of 6.8 percent over the previous year. However, the national tourism sector experienced a severe decline in the percentage of foreign tourist arrivals due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The COVID-19 crisis is a new crisis that has hit the hotel industry around the world, including Malaysia. The gloom of the tourism industry also effects the number of visitors and tourists staying at the hotel. This is because Malaysia is one of the tourisms led countries where the hotel industry is a major contributor to the overall GDP of the country’s economy. This has resulted in many hotels in Malaysia being forced to close temporarily or wind up. For the record, a total of 109 hotels had to close in 2020. Based on data from the Malaysian Hotel Association in 2020, a total of 542 people equivalent to 3 percent of workers were laid off, while 20 percent (3,641) were asked to take unpaid leave and a total of (2,880), 16 percent had faced pay cuts. On the part of the hotel management, salary cuts, termination of rewards and layoffs are some of the drastic actions that have to be taken to ensure business continuity. However, this approach is seen as unfair for hotel workers. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the relationship of job security towards intention to quit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data of the study involved respondents from the state of Kedah. The population for this study was 1,230 employees working in 40 hotels in Kedah. The target of the population, 291 employees were identified through cluster sampling. In addition, the data of this study was collected using a distributed questionnaire while for the data analysis process using Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS). The results from the analysis found that job security had not a significant relationship with the intention to quit.

The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Sri Lankan migrants in Qatar

The spread of Covid-19 in Qatar and the pandemic-led economic slump in the country have substantial financial implications for Sri Lankan migrant workers in Qatar and the Sri Lankan economy as a whole, as Qatar has been one of the primary destinations among Sri Lankan migrants in recent years. Based on 12 in-depth interviews and an online survey of 101 Sri Lankan workers in Qatar, this paper assesses the pandemic’s financial implications on three groups of Sri Lankan migrants; the highly-skilled, skilled and semi-skilled. Using a mixed-method analysis, the paper identifies that pay-cuts have been the most common financial issue across all skill levels, with nearly half of respondents reporting deductions from their salaries. The research also identifies that while all three groups of migrants have used various coping mechanisms to mitigate the pandemic’s financial impact, highly-skilled migrants have been more successful in weathering the storm than others due to their accumulated savings. Though compared to the early months of the pandemic, the financial stability of most Sri Lankans in Qatar had improved by September 2020 with the easing of restrictions imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19, it might not necessarily transfer into stability in remittances to Sri Lanka, as an increasing number of Sri Lankan migrant workers in Qatar are considering a permanent return home.