Pandemics: Implications for research and practice in industrial and organizational psychology

TLDR

Pandemics have historically reshaped work, and COVID‑19 has sparked speculation about its impact on the future of work and organizational life. The article outlines ten I‑O psychology research and practice topics likely to be strongly affected by COVID‑19 and calls for further exploration of how the field can address these emerging issues. The ten topics examined are occupational health and safety, work–family issues, telecommuting, virtual teamwork, job insecurity, precarious work, leadership, human resources policy, the aging workforce, and careers. COVID‑19 is generating both new challenges and opportunities across these topics, and the article urges researchers and practitioners to proactively adapt their work to support workers, organizations, and society.

Abstract

Abstract Pandemics have historically shaped the world of work in various ways. With COVID-19 presenting as a global pandemic, there is much speculation about the implications of this crisis for the future of work and for people working in organizations. In this article, we discuss 10 of the most relevant research and practice topics in the field of industrial and organizational psychology that will likely be strongly influenced by COVID-19. For each of these topics, the pandemic crisis is creating new work-related challenges, but it is also presenting various opportunities. The topics discussed herein include occupational health and safety, work–family issues, telecommuting, virtual teamwork, job insecurity, precarious work, leadership, human resources policy, the aging workforce, and careers. This article sets the stage for further discussion of various ways in which I-O psychology research and practice can address the issues that COVID-19 creates for work and organizational processes that are affecting workers now and will shape the future of work and organizations in both the short and long term. This article concludes by inviting I-O psychology researchers and practitioners to address the challenges and opportunities of COVID-19 head-on by proactively adapting the work that we do in support of workers, organizations, and society as a whole.