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Mental Health at The Workplace, Person-Organization-Fit and Labor Productivity Growth: Evidence from the Egyptian Soap and Detergents Industry During COVID-19

Ali, Tarek, Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, Mostafa, Bassant Adel (2023) Mental Health at The Workplace, Person-Organization-Fit and Labor Productivity Growth: Evidence from the Egyptian Soap and Detergents Industry During COVID-19. Employee Relations, . ISSN 0142-5455. (doi:10.1108/ER-01-2022-0026) (KAR id:100194)

Abstract

Purpose: This study seeks to examine the mediating role of mental health issues in the workplace (MHIW) in explaining the complex relationship between Person-Organization-fit (P.O-fit) dimensions and workers’ productivity (WP) variance during COVID-19 in the Egyptian Soap & Detergents industry.

Design/methodology/approach: Using a cross-sectional survey, the authors collected data from 373 frontline workers and supervisors working at ARMA soap and detergents (ASD) factories. In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 production-lines and quality-control supervisors. The hypothesized model was analyzed using the partial least square structural equation modeling technique.

Findings - The authors found a significant, high P.O-fit level among ASD workers. The need-supplies-fit and supplementary-fit controlled MHIW. The need-supplies-fit and supplementary-fit alongside MHIW explained the growth in WP during COVID-19. The MHIW mediated the relationship between P.O-fit dimensions and WP during the pandemic.

Originality/value - This study is among the first to add significant information on how MHIW (as mediator) explains the relationship between P.O-fit and WP growth during the pandemic.

Research limitations/implications - Limited attention was paid to investigating how the P.O-fit dimensions enable frontline workers to remain productive despite the MHIW associated with COVID-19. This study bridges the aforementioned research gap by elucidating how the supplementary-fit, demand-abilities-fit, and need-supplies-fit manipulate MHIW and maintain WP growth during the pandemic.

Practical/managerial implications - The findings provide clear guidelines for the first-line supervisors to foster the P.O-fit dimensions, control MHIW and sustain WP growth during COVID-19.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1108/ER-01-2022-0026
Additional information: This author accepted manuscript is deposited under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC) licence. This means that anyone may distribute, adapt, and build upon the work for non-commercial purposes, subject to full attribution. If you wish to use this manuscript for commercial purposes, please contact permissions@emerald.com
Uncontrolled keywords: Mental Health Issues; Workplace; COVID-19, productivity
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship and International Business
Funders: [37325] UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User: Joseph Amankwah-Amoah
Date Deposited: 23 Feb 2023 10:28 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 16:55 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/100194 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0383-5831
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