The Saudi Arabian population experiences and expectations in the working climate during COVID 19 pandemic era

Abstract EN

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the working environment in a substantial way.

The people expectations are important in term of planning.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to explore the expectations and experiences of the Saudi population during and after the COVID 19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used in this study, in which 381 residents filled out a structured online questionnaire.

The collected data were coded and analyzed using SPSS version 22.

The study obtained ethical approval, and all participants provided informed consent.

Results: Half the population stated that they were dependent on digital media, and they spent more hours working from home [53.5%, 50%].

Two-thirds of the population stated that they missed social interaction.

Eighty percent of respondents foreseen that virtual meetings, working from home, and computerization acceleration will become the norm even after the epidemic.

Nearly fifty percent agreed that wearing a mask would become a usual practice.

Inferential statistics showed that gender, occupation, and nationality all had statistically significant relationships with four domains of work experiences [P-value of less than 0.05], except for the relationship of nationality with the time spent at work.

The expectation that the use of face masks would become normal and a fashion was not significantly associated with nationality, gender, or occupation with a P-value of [0.09, 0.28, and 0.93, respectively].

The expectation of the Home office to become a common practice was not associated with gender.

Conclusion: Work expectations changes are associated with gender, occupation, and nationality